The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) welcomes the Wilms Cancer Foundation (WCF) as its newest Affiliate Partner organization.
WCF is a charitable organization that supports and represents the needs of children, families & healthcare organizations affected by childhood kidney cancer internationally.
“The WCF is delighted to join the KCA Affiliate Program and looks forward to working closely with them to support the lives of children, families and healthcare professionals, and organizations who are tackling childhood kidney cancer on a daily basis,” said TJ Hodgkinson, WCF’s CEO and founder. “Through this collaboration, the WCF and KCA will look to work together to improve awareness, treatment and research of the disease internationally.”
Hodgkinson founded WCF after his son was diagnosed with stage 4 Wilms tumor in 2018. Following a 5-year battle against the disease his son is now clear of cancer and the organization is committed to supporting those who face the disease. It is the only pediatric renal organization specifically focused on the disease internationally.
Wilms’ tumor is a kidney cancer primarily affecting children under the age of 5 and there is typically no clear underlying cause. Also known as nephroblastoma, it’s the most common kidney cancer in children – 9 out of 10 pediatric renal cancers are Wilms – and the 4th most common childhood cancer overall. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, swelling, and blood in the urine.
Treating Wilms’ tumor depends on the size, whether it has spread to other parts of the body, and the type of cells involved. The disease has a good survival rate if detected early but sadly, many children go undiagnosed for years and children who are diagnosed later face extensive, life-threatening treatment including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, and may still face death. WCF works with national and international organizations including the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) to address survival disparities across high-, middle-, and low-income countries.
“Pediatric cancer initiatives resonate deeply with the KCA because we recognize that investing in research and support for young patients is an investment in a better tomorrow,” said Gretchen E. Vaughan, KCA President and CEO. “We are thrilled to partner with WCF to embrace the challenge of diagnosing and treating pediatric kidney cancer, leveraging our collective expertise and determination to bring about transformative outcomes.”
The KCA’s Affiliate Partner program expands the support networks available to people impacted by kidney cancer and allows for strategic collaborations to make advances in research, advocacy, and education.
WCF joins five other kidney cancer advocacy groups as KCA Affiliate Partners: the Chris “CJ” Johnson Foundation, the Chromophobe and Oncocytic Tumor Alliance (COA), HLRCC Foundation, Joey’s Wings Foundation, and the Judy Nicholson Kidney Cancer Foundation.
Media Contact:
Radha Chitale
Senior Director of Communications
847.332.1051 ext. 113 | [email protected]