Hyundai Hope on Wheels

Ashley Smith2,814 CommentsFeatured

Every 36 minutes a child in the U.S. is diagnosed with pediatric cancer – that’s 15,000 children per year. This National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (Sept), Hyundai Motor America, its non-profit organization Hyundai Hope
On Wheels (HHOW), and is 830+ dealers will award $14.1 million to support novel therapeutic approaches and innovative research options in pediatric cancer – marking the 20thconsecutive year of the donations. The annual campaign is called “Every Handprint Tells a Story”.

HHOW demonstrates its commitment with visits to local children’s hospitals across the country to honor the brave children and their families on the frontline of the disease, and to present research grant awards. Visits include HHOW’s signature Handprint Ceremony, where local children battling cancer dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on a white 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe, the official Hope vehicle.

Childhood cancer researchers depend largely on private funding for groundbreaking therapies to get off the ground and to advance treatment approaches to the next phase of testing ultimately bringing better therapies and cure to kids with cancer. The grants from HHOW deliver on its decades-long commitment to support the most promising childhood cancer research throughout the nation. This year, 24 of the 28 grant recipient hospitals are ranked with the Top 50 of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospital for Pediatric Cancer, with two institutions claiming the #2 and #3 rankings.

As “Every Handprint Tells a Story,” the colorful handprints of brave pediatric cancer fighters represent their individual and collective hopes, dreams and journeys. Until the end of September, the Hope Vehicle will travel nationwide to honor kids battling cancer, raise awareness of the disease and inspire hope toward a cure. During this time, the public is invited to join the campaign. Supporters are encouraged to visit and sign Hyundai Wall of Hope on hyundaihopeonwheels.org and add their handprint to show their support for the cause.

About HHOW’s Youth Ambassador
Elizabeth Blair, a 12-year-old from Phoenix, AZ, was diagnosed at the age of 5 with a Stage IV Non-Hodgkins Lymphoblast Lymphoma. After a battery of treatments Elizabeth was declared cancer-free. As a HHOW Youth Ambassador, Elizabeth travels across the country sharing her story and provides encouragement to other children battling the cancer.