Andrew Shea

The Children’s Tumor Foundation

Grant Awarded: $20,000

The Children’s Tumor Foundation is dedicated to funding medical research in neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that attacks the nervous system and causes tumors to form within the nervous system. There is no cure for NF nor any effective treatments.

Although NF occurs in one in 3,000 children born and causes a range of problems such as learning disabilities, bone deformities, blindness, deafness, severe chronic pain and even cancer, few people know about it. This grant goes toward an NF awareness campaign that includes phone kiosk ads, informational book of frequently asked questions, and a website. The goal is to promote earlier and more accurate diagnoses and more empathy toward those afflicted with this disfiguring disorder.