History
The
Sam Harry Foundation was inspired by the boundless energy, courage
and optimism of a 10-year-old boy named Sam, whose sweet and gentle
spirit never failed to cheer others. Though diagnosed with Autism,
Sam thrived in a family and school that encouraged his interests
and embraced his special outlook on life.
Diagnosed
with a brain tumor in April 2002, initial treatments looked promising
and Sam’s future seemed brighter. But seven months later,
the tumors were back and
had spread to his spinal cord. Eventually, on advice from his
doctors, Sam’s family
halted treatments and brought him home
to be with them in his final weeks. Sam passed away peacefully,
surrounded by
his family, on February 4, 2003.
Regardless
of how he felt during his illness and after treatments, Sam was
a constant source of humor and optimism to his family, classmates
and the community. It is that spirit that drives The Sam Harry
Foundation. And it is that spirit that will contribute to a cure
for a devastating childhood illness. Sam
may have lost his brief battle with brain cancer, but his legacy
will last far longer.
We
believe in the power of inspired teamwork!
Mission
The
mission of The Sam Harry Foundation is to contribute to the effort
to find promising treatments and, eventually, a cure for pediatric
brain tumors by:
-
Increasing public awareness about the incidence and severity
of pediatric brain tumors;
- Funding
medical research and other programs;
- Publicizing
the efforts of the Foundation and those of other like-minded
organizations to find the cause and cure of childhood brain
tumors;
- Building
relationships and working with other organizations whenever
possible as part of a network of organizations devoted to eradicating
this disease; and
- Providing
critical health information for parents of stricken children;
In
addition, we will also work tirelessly to:
- Help
autistic children acquire the early intervention they need to
lead normal lives; and
- Raise
public awareness about the increase in the diagnosis of “autistic-spectrum”
disorders in children.
The
Sam Harry Foundation has developed an important relationship with
the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States (PBTFUS)
and will continue to network with similar organizations in an
effort to develop effective new medicines and treatments through
funding and information exchanges.
The
fight against serious childhood diseases like brain tumors will
be enhanced by teamwork. We believe it will take a team effort
by many organizations – medical and social – rather
than by an individual researcher or facility. To that end, The
Sam Harry Foundation will continue to raise funds for research,
pursue opportunities to work with other groups, and convey the
latest medical news and treatment information for other families
coping with these devastating illnesses.
We
believe in the limitless scientific imagination of the doctors
and clinical researchers and support their ongoing laboratory
and clinical research. And, finally, we believe that all children
stricken with serious illnesses like brain tumors and other cancers
deserve our passion, tenacity and dedication to finding a cure. |
