HOW KIER’S KIDZ HELPS
From DNA Sequencing to Emotional Support

​ We help young adults, teens and kids with cancer by:

• Providing emotional support.
• Providing limited financial assistance for cancer patients.
• Locating other resources, such as other nonprofits, energy cost-reduction services, and medical/pharmaceutical cost reduction services, for the child, adolescent, young adult and their families.
• Helping with finding a bone marrow donor by setting up and running blood and bone marrow donor drives.
• Providing cancer family support.
• Underwriting the DNA sequencing of a child's DNA and of the cancer’s DNA so that the child receives Precision Medical treatment (available when the child is treated at Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ and when we have sufficient funds).
• Supporting research to find new cancer treatments through the nationally shared Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository (RUCDR) and by underwriting DNA sequencing analysis at CINJ.
• Coordinating with other nonprofits that offer support services for cancer.
• Funding research at the Childhood Cancer Therapy Development Institute, which is focused on making childhood cancers universally survivable.
• In collaboration with the Childhood Cancer Therapy Development Institute, creating roadmaps for children with rare cancers.
• Proposing and helping to develop a trailblazing undergraduate course, “Introduction to Cancer,” at Rutgers University.
• Allying with the Critical Mass nonprofit to help eliminate treatment barriers for adolescents and young adults with cancer. 

Cancer Family Support: We’re here for you!

At Kier’s Kidz, we’ve been where you are – whether you are just diagnosed or you are farther along in your cancer journey, we have the compassion and experience to help you emotionally and logistically. We offer support for family members of cancer patients, as well as young adults and young kids with cancer.

Cancer family support means we’re here when you have a question and when you need someone to talk to. It means young adults, adolescents and kids with cancer, and their loved ones, will find empathy and love from people who have walked in and deeply understand what it is to be in their shoes. ​

Cancer is a scary diagnosis.  Kier’s Kidz works to make your journey less stressful by offering all the help we can give.
​

Kier at 5 years-old

​What is DNA Sequencing?

DNA sequencing is a method for determining if genes have changes or variations. In order to determine its sequence, DNA is first collected from cells in a person’s spit or a swab of their inner cheek. Using sophisticated computational approaches, doctors can then determine if a person has a variation in one of their ~20,000 genes. By conducting DNA sequencing analysis of a patient’s normal cells and their cancer cells, doctors can tell which genes are changed in the cancer cells, and these variations are often the cause of the cancer.

At the Cancer Institute of NJ (CINJ), DNA sequencing analysis is the first step toward targeted cancer therapy for an individual. Using the sequencing technology described above, doctors and technicians determine which genes are changed in order to identify the specific genetic causes of the cancer so they can determine which treatments will be most effective as some therapies are aimed at treating a specific cancer mutation.

This method of using DNA sequencing to treat cancer is known as Precision Medicine, and it allows for more precise cancer treatment options. These specially tailored treatments improve the chance of a cure and also help decrease the side effects from non-targeted chemotherapy treatments. For rare cancers, where there is no standardized approach, precision medicine provides valuable information to inform a patient’s treatment.

Equally important, the completely anonymized DNA sequencing data are shared with all cancer research and treatment programs.  This sharing helps other doctors to choose appropriate treatment protocols for their patients and helps build a national repository to facilitate research, new cancer treatments and cures for the 4000 cancers known to exist.

Kier’s Kidz patient assistance program for underwriting part of the cost for DNA sequencing analysis at CINJ is just one of the ways we offer support and financial assistance for cancer patients.

---

Other Support Services for Cancer Patients and Families

​We can help you:

• Find a bone marrow donor service.
• Identify other organizations that provide financial assistance for cancer patients.
• Locate additional support services for cancer.
• Find other nonprofits and organizations that offer housing assistance for cancer patients.
• Help to locate available daily living cost-reduction services.
• Help to identify and to access potential medical/pharmaceutical cost reduction services.

You can Help Young Adults & Kids With Cancer?

You and your organization can make a significant difference:

• Donate to support our child cancer assistance, research and awareness work – your charitable contribution is tax deductible and helps us provide valuable support services for cancer patients and their families.
• Set up bone marrow donor drives and blood drives, fundraisers, or opportunities to raise childhood cancer awareness. We’ll help!
• Join us for our next event.
• Volunteer to work on a project with us.
• Volunteer to work on our Board.
• Designate Kier's Kidz as your nonprofit of choice to receive an Amazon donation every time you buy something through Amazon. Go to smile.amazon.com to participate. It will cost you nothing and rewards Kier's Kidz with a donation of .5% of the cost of eligible items you buy at Amazon.
• Host a Kier's Kidz event at your home, workplace, house of worship, club or organization.  We’ll be there to help.
• Encourage your children or your friends to do a community- or school-based event to raise funds for and awareness of Kier's Kidz and the people we help.