Childhood Cancer Survivor Inspires Hope
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – April is National Cancer Control Month, a time to highlight progress in the fight against childhood cancer and the work still ahead.
Advances in treatment have helped increase pediatric cancer survival rates to about 85 % today, a dramatic improvement compared to past decades.
Still, cancer remains the leading disease‑related cause of death for children, and nearly 15,000 young people in the U.S. under 20 are diagnosed each year.
Hyundai Hope on Wheels is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting pediatric cancer research and awareness.
Since its founding in 1998, the organization has awarded more than $300 million in research and program grants to institutions nationwide, helping fuel discoveries that improve outcomes and extend young lives.
A powerful example of hope comes from Jackson Trinh of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
At age seven, Jackson was diagnosed with B‑cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and endured more than two years of treatment, including chemotherapy and time away from school and friends.
Today he is in remission and serves as a National Youth Ambassador for Hyundai Hope on Wheels, traveling to children’s hospitals to share his story, inspire others, and raise awareness about pediatric cancer research.
Stories like Jackson’s show both how far pediatric cancer treatment has come and why continued investment in research, support, and survivorship care is so important, not just for survival statistics, but for helping kids thrive beyond cancer.
