Go4the
Goal is holding their 5th Annual Richard’s River Run on Sunday, May 1st, 2011 at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, NJ. Registration for this 5k run begins at 7:45AM and the event starts at 9:00AM. There is a $20.00 fee for pre-registrants and a $25.00 fee for those registering on the day of the race. Proceeds to
benefit children diagnosed with cancer and pediatric cancer research. Top male and female finishers receive The Tim Frantz Memorial Medal. There will be additional awards for all age categories. To register online, go to go4thegoal.org or go to Active.com. For more information, contact Beth Stefanacci (609) 313-0912.
Our Story…
Go4theGoal Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to finding a cure for Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, as well as other pediatric cancers. We are also very involved with helping children and their families affected by cancer. Go4theGoal Foundation was founded in 2006 by Dr. Richard & Beth Stefanacci when their oldest son Richard was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma.
In the early stages of Richard’s treatment, it became evident that many children who suffer from childhood cancers do not have the emotional, financial, and logistical support that the Stefanacci’s were fortunate enough to provide for Richard. With the overwhelming support from family, friends, and neighbors, Richard & Beth did what came naturally to them: they combined their surplus of resources with the intention to improve the lives of children and their families affected by cancer.
In a short time, Go4theGoal became a reality. Their vision was to help kids maintain some “normalcy” of being a child while undergoing cancer treatments and frequent visits to the hospital. It was vital in their own situation for their son, Richard, to continue to be a “normal” teenager while he fought his disease. Richard passed away June 12, 2007 at the young age of 14… 394 days after being diagnosed with cancer.
What we do….
Research Funding: Go4theGoal is committed to funding research programs that are working towards our ultimate goal of finding a cure for Ewing’s Sarcoma. In five short years, Go4theGoal has funded over $500,000 in research grants. Our focus in the past has been with Dr. Jeff Toretsky, MD and his team of researchers at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. In the fall of 2010 we were pleased to add Dr. Elizabeth Lawlor and her lab at University of Michigan to our grant program.
Social Giving…
In our mission to help pediatric cancer patients and their families, we are able to provide financial assistance for day-to-day expenses as well as grant special requests. Annual holiday gift baskets are given to pediatric cancers patients being treated at hospitals nationwide including hospitals in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, Washington, Michigan, California, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia. An important part of Go4theGoal’s social mission is to help kids feel “normal”, especially when they are undergoing treatments. These holiday gift baskets are designed to help alleviate some of the boredom that comes along with treatments and lengthy hospital visits. We also work with local schools developing volunteer programs for community service projects.
Contact Information: Beth Stefanacci, founder of Go4theGoal, (609)313-0912, bethstefanacci@aol.com, 300 West Maple Avenue, Merchantville, NJ 08109
