About | victoria rose fund

Our Story
A cancer survivor owned Non-profit that started with a little bit of hope

The Victoria Rose Fund was created in 2011, by Victoria’s brother Mike, in which, the fund started out solely for helping Victoria’s family with the financial burdens that come with a cancer diagnosis. Victoria was 21 years old when she began battling Medulloblastoma Grade IV Brain Cancer (a childhood brain tumor) and later finding out the cancerous cells fell into her spine adding spinal cancer to her diagnosis. She went through numerous surgeries, treatments, and procedures; some major processes included Radiation, Chemotherapy, Proton Therapy (targeted radiation beam used to treat tumors near sensitive organs), Blood Transfusions, Ovary surgery, Spinal tap, Shunt Placement and Removal.

OUR MISSION

To provide emotional and financial relief to patients suffering from all aspects of a cancer diagnosis. We strive to fulfill this through various fundraising efforts and giving programs. In the hope of enriching their lives, we provide cancer patients with in-person and virtual fundraising opportunities, personalized uplifting care packages, and beneficial cancer-related resource reports. Our goal is to bring some sunshine into their lives and highlight their bravery during their journey, all while promoting awareness of all types of cancer to accentuate the cause and to assist the cancer community.

We rely solely on monetary and in-kind donations.

PAY IT FORWARD CONCEPT

The concept of "pay it forward" finds a reference as early as 1951 in Robert A. Heinlein’s book “Between Planets”. The idea got popularized later in the movie “Pay it forward” which was released in the year 2000. In the movie, Haley Joel Osment plays the role of a young boy who has to work on a school assignment requiring him to find a way to bring about a change in the world. The boy develops the concept of "pay it forward" and sets forth a chain of good deeds.

Where did it originate?

The concept of ‘pay it forward’ should be undertaken with a selfless spirit. Basically, when a person is doing a kind deed he doesn’t expect anything in return. Many organizations encourage the concept of "pay it forward" anonymously. People donate money or perform acts for other people's benefit without coming into the limelight. Instead, the beneficiary is told to adhere to the concept by doing a good deed with the philosophy of "pay it forward", one can only hope to multiply and grow the chain of good deeds.

How does it work?

The Victoria Rose Fund (VRF) practices this idea of “pay it forward” by giving back through several productive cancer-related programs. Some of our most productive endeavors include our annual benefits, our reach-out resource reports, and our ‘uplift’ care packages. We advocate for the cause, promote awareness of all types of cancer, and act as a support system to those who are going through and are affected by cancer. We carry this out with the collaboration of friends, family, kind donors, and the community.

How we work

I am extremely grateful and blessed to say I am officially a 9-year Brain and Spinal Cancer SURVIVOR. I am in a Survivorship Program at The University of Penn for surveillance care. Going through so much at age 21 I was given a whole new perspective on life. I realize that every single day breathing on earth is a true blessing. I am a stronger woman today than I ever was.

There are so many people out there that have cancer or know someone with it; this is a worldwide epidemic. I try every day to be as selfless as I can and strive to live my life for helping others. I strongly believe that we as a team and as a community can make a difference. So many people helped me when I was sick and going through a difficult time; I remember being at an overnight stay at CHOP and it was around 2AM - I promised God that if I was blessed enough to beat the cancer I would give back for all that was given to me and my family. That’s when I really started thinking about this “Pay it Forward” concept. I know it may seem like a small idea but it really has such a huge impact.

I hope that, with the help of our family, friends, followers, donors, and community, I can fulfill the promise I made to myself years back by coming together and making a difference even in ONE person's life. By helping others in need through our fundraisers and outreach efforts I hope that we can change their cancer journey by giving them a glimmer of hope, lifting their spirits, and helping them with their financial burdens. Seeing a smile on that person's face, if even for a moment is what truly makes it all worth it.

In my heart, I know that with everything we do, every donation (big or small), every prayer, and every positive thought that we just did something remarkable.