Zimmermans raised $15,000 for the cause
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
EAST AMWELL — A woman whose teenager was stricken by cancer in his infancy more than 15 years ago has raised $15,000 for pediatric cancer research.
Norma Zimmerman, of East Amwell Township, and her family presented the check Jan. 29 to doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium.
”Raising money for pediatric cancer research is my mission, and sometimes it’s all I think about,” Mrs. Zimmerman said. “All of these precious children suffering through treatment.”
Erik Zimmerman Jr. was 17 months old when doctors told his parents he had medulloblastoma, a cancer of the brain and spine. He received radiation treatments that left him with additional health problems. Two years ago, he underwent surgery to counter the effects of radiation on the blood vessels in his brain.
Mrs. Zimmerman and her friend, Susan Gherardi, formed a nonprofit organization in 2008 to raise funds to help families whose children suffer from cancer and also for pediatric cancer research.
The money they donated to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium was collected throughout 2008 through various fundraising events. The biggest fundraiser is Ride4Erik, a motorcycle rally held in September.
Ride4Erik is actually more than a motorcycle ride around the county. Billed as a community event for people of all ages, it also includes a bike ride for children, entertainment, music, food and beverages.
”Last year, we had approximately 10 of our child survivors in attendance,” Mrs. Zimmerman said. “We honored them with a balloon launch at the end of the event.”
Some of the funds in 2008 went to aid four families with newly diagnosed children. Another family was helped in 2009. Usually, each family receives $500 to use. However they need to know whether it’s for medical bills or groceries.
The National Cancer Institute formed the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium in 1999 to improve the treatment of primary brain tumors in children. Its primary objective is to rapidly conduct phase I and phase II clinical evaluations of new therapeutic drugs, new biological therapies, treatment delivery technologies and radiation treatment strategies.
The PBTC’s participating institutions include Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Duke University, the National Cancer Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, the University of California at San Francisco and the University of Pittsburgh.

