Every year, WCBS Newsradio 880 partners with the Valerie Fund to raise awareness for the work they do in helping children with cancer and blood disorders.
Our John Metaxas introduces us to one young cancer patient who has managed his treatments in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and is grateful for the help he's received from the Valerie Fund.
Having cancer at any time is hard, but in the time of COVID, it presents even more challenges.
"I'm immunocompromised so there's a big risk going to school right now in the current pandemic," said 17-year-old Dane Hagstrom. who was dianogsed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in July, but he was already familiar with remote learning because of COVID.
Now as he enters his senior year at Cranford High School, he's still studying from home and navigating his world of cancer treatments with the help of The Valerie Fund.
"We have our own social worker, she's been great. She's helped us making sure there's a good line of communication between the Valerie Fund and my school," Hagstrom said.
His mother, Trisha, said The Valerie Fund never left their side.
"They came at this with such a positive outlook," she said.
"They've really been a beacon of hope for me, they really helped out," said Dane.
He hopes to give back. He will be walking for The Valerie Fund this week, raising money to help other kids get the support they need.
The Valerie Fund Walk & JAG-ONE Physical Therapy 5K Run is being held virtually, culminating in a closing ceremony Saturday.
For more information, visit TheValerieFund.org.