[MHF] – Imagine the devastation of hearing your child has brain cancer. Brain cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in children in North America. It is the second most common type of childhood cancer, accounting for approximately 25 percent of all types, and occurring at a rate of three to four cases per 100,000 children. Childhood brain tumors are the second leading cause of death among pediatric oncology patients.

To date, only a handful of medical centers have sufficient resources and patient numbers to be able to provide the highly specialized training for academic pediatric neuro-oncologists. The Michael Hoefflin Foundation Fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles fills a critical need by addressing the dearth of these specialists in the United States.

Since the MHF Fellowship program began in 2004, 11 Neuro-Oncology Fellows have been trained with more than $500,000 in funding from the Foundation. MHF recently delivered the second $40,000 for the current Fellowship. Fundraising has begun for the 2015/2016 Fellowship that commences later this year.

“We originally established the Fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to continue Dr. Jonathan Finlay’s specialized training of early-career physician scientists,” Chris Hoefflin, MHF founder and board member, noted. “We are so grateful to be able to work in conjunction with Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, a world-renowned hospital for pediatric medicine, to try to find an end to brain cancer in children.”

The yearlong training period spans from July 1 to June 30 each year, and started with the 2004/2005 Fellowship.

Throughout the year, the Foundation helps families facing pediatric cancer in many ways, including providing gas and grocery assistance, support group meetings, and family outings — aid crucial to families dealing with the emotional and unexpected financial burden of cancer.

The Michael Hoefflin Foundation for children’s cancer is a public non-profit 501ce foundation serving children and families touched by pediatric cancer in the Santa Clarita and surrounding valleys. For more information please contact us at (661) 250-4100 or go to www.MHF.org.