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A dream is born |
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Unfortunately, it did not happen right away. I brought the transcript
home and placed it on my bedroom night table, re-reading it
many times over a period of eight years.
In November 1996, like a thunderbolt out of the sky, our only
son, Neil, the oldest of our four children, was stricken with
terminal brain cancer. In the sorrow and grief that accompanied
his long illness and eventual death, I knew I had to do something
to ensure that other families would not have to endure the agony
we went through.
So in December 1997, I established the Israel Children’s
Cancer Foundation in my son’s memory. Since then, I have
been working full time, without compensation, to help these
unfortunate Israeli children survive the scourge of cancer.
In establishing the ICCF I took it upon myself to visit the
five hospitals and medical centers in Israel that care for over
90% of children with cancer. In addition, I organized a Medical
Advisory Council consisting of 25 of the most respected pediatric
oncologists and hematologists in the United States and Israel.
The Council reviews and decides on all the grant applications
and is chaired by Dr. Michael B. Harris, Director of Tomorrows
Children’s Institute at Hackensack University Medical
Center.
Starting with no donors eight years ago, we now boast a list
of over 19,000 caring contributors. This year alone, we are
providing a half a million dollars in grants for this life saving
work. As the only non-profit organization providing in-hospital
care for Israeli
children, we have made a major impact since our founding in
fulfilling the dream of giving these cancer-ridden children
a “ray of hope” for their future wellbeing. |
 A
Dream is Born
by Harold N. Blond
ICCF President
In November 1987 I was engaged as a fund raising consultant
by the Israel Cancer Research Fund. Shortly after joining the
ICRF I came upon a 53 page transcript of a seminar held the
previous June in the ICRF office in New York. The seminar had
hosted many of the leading oncologists and hematologists in
Israel.
In reading this lengthy transcript of the seminar proceedings
I became distressed and depressed to learn of the low level
of clinical cancer care in Israel. Normally I would view this
information with a grain of salt, if it were not the fact the
comments were coming literally from the horse’s mouth-
the medical professionals that oversee the system of cancer
care in Israel.
For a moment I could not believe what I was reading and I forced
myself to re-read the transcript a second time, and then a third
time. Here we had professionals charged with the responsibility
of overseeing the system, telling us what is wrong with the
system.
I was completely shaken by these findings and after several
days of mulling over the information, I decided that upon my
retirement I would try to right this problem. |
