b'Equitable Care, Survivorship & Mental Health PrioritiesBrighter Futures HighlightREALIZING FUTURES Since 2017, Robert J. Zimmer, Ph.D., has generously supported Brighter Futures: Funding Impactful Programs PCRFs Survivor Scholarship Program, helping to create brighter Our generous community makes it possible for families facing immense challenges to access the vital care, resources, and stability they needfutures for children impacted by cancer. His unwavering mostadvancing PCRFs mission through our Institutional Priorities of Powering Research, Equitable Care and Survivorship & Mental Health. commitment to higher education is not only empowering young survivors but also paving the way for the next generation of PCRF SURVIVOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM medical professionals, social workers, and community leaders. Each year, Robert personally reviews every application alongside In 2024, PCRF proudly awarded over 76 scholarships to survivors of pediatric cancers for their undergraduate and/or post-graduate studies.the selection committee, bringing thoughtful insight and heartfelt These scholarships reflect our commitment to improving quality of life for those affected by pediatric cancers and are one more way we helpcare to the process.these survivors realize happy, healthy, and productive futures.Each story has left a profound impact on me. Ive been truly humbled by the strength, RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT 3 resilience, and grace these young Name:Parker survivors carry. Their courage Diagnosis:Pilocytic Astrocytoma fuels my desire to help make Age of Diagnosis:5a difference. I hadnt realized I was only five years old, and that day would change my life forever. When my mom received her Mothers Daythe lasting toll childhood card from me and my two brothers, she noticed that mycancer treatment can signature was off. Instead of my typical, tight and concise letters, my name was unevenly distributed across the page.takeespecially She became deeply worried, knowing that I had recentlyon memory and said, Mommy, sometimes I cant see too well, and had RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT 1 RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT 2 complained of my head hurting. What was supposed to beattentionmaking Name:JehanName:Sophia her special day, ended with her taking me to the pediatrictheir path to higher Diagnosis:Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma Diagnosis:Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia emergency department. I was diagnosed with my pilocytic astrocytoma brain tumor. I cant imagine the fear andeducation even more Age of Diagnosis:5 Age of Diagnosis:3 apprehension my mother must have felt that day. Since mychallenging and Every time I visited the hospital, I collected a sticker andPrick, prick, prick. The mere thought of needles madediagnosis in 2011, Ive had nineteen total surgeries, fourteen placed it on my headboard creating a colorful collage thatmy skin crawl. Its just a poke. Dont cry, hold it in, deepof them being brain surgeries, chemotherapy for over twodeserving of support.still hangs in my room today. Those stickers remind mebreaths, close your eyes. These words echoed in myyears, and over fifty brain MRIs. ~ Robert J. Zimmerof both the difficult and hopeful moments of my cancermind as I approached the infusion center, where nurses~ Parker, University of California, Los Angelesjourney. I was young when diagnosed, but I understood theaccessed my portacath, drew blood, and administered2024 Honorary Captain at UCLA Dribble forweight of it - the fear, the discomfort, and the toll on mythe chemotherapy. Victory Over Cancer Eventfamily. Through it all, I learned the power of perseveranceI wear my portacath scar boldly as a symbol of victory, and support. Now,a constant reminder to me and others of what Ive faced. as a PCRF SurvivorConquering childhood cancer has shaped my life. I was Help me understand how toGive kids undergoingI still worry about Scholarship recipient,determined to regain my strength and persevere, evenliveas a survivor, Im some- treatment access tomy futurenotCreate more positivity Im pursuing a degree induring my weakest moments. I never wanted cancer totimes unsure how to balancesupport so they canknowing what willaround the cancerdata science to turn mydefine me privacy and disclosure; andenvision what theircome next is justtreatment experience- passion for mathematicsam always a bit anxiousfuture looks like/as difficult as theI feel like survivinginto impactusing data~ Sophia, Duke University about my future. better navigate sometreatment. cancer is my to address challengesof the hurdles. superpower!like disease and homelessness and to help others, just as so many helped me. ~ Jehan, University of California, Berkeley~ Survivor Scholarship Recipients15'