WHO WE HELP

The Payton Wright Foundation is dedicated to fighting pediatric brain cancer on multiple fronts. We support research to find new treatments, as well as financially assisting families who are caring for a child with brain cancer.

RESEARCH
Pediatric brain cancer is an historically underfunded area of research, and the PWF provides funds to hospitals and research organizations that are working towards a cure for this disease. Some of the organizations that we support include:

- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh drug trial programs
- The Robert Preston Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center
- The V Foundation for Cancer Research

FAMILIES
All families, no matter what their situation prior to diagnosis, face severe financial burden when their child has brain cancer. Treatments are expensive and may only be available some distance from home, parents have to take time off work to attend apppointments and care for their child, and special equipment is often needed. The Payton Wright Foundation provides assistance by paying monthly rent, mortgage and utility bills. Additionally, the Foundation has created funds at several hospitals for their pediatric brain cancer patients. These hospitals include:

- All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL
- Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital, Orlando, FL

Here are a few stories of the children we have helped:

A note from a family at Shands in Gainesville, FL: "Recently Hillary, our nurse practitioner at Shands gave us a Carrabba's gift card and said it was from a beautiful family who had caught cancer with their child. Our ten year old daughter Phylicia was diagnosed with a rare pediatric malignant brain tumor the week before Christmas. She nearly went blind and the tumor crushed her pituitary gland, which has presented itself with perhaps lifelong endocrine issues. We are happy to say that through the prayers of thousands all over the globe and the wonderful cancer treatment she's rec'd at Shands, her eyesight is almost completely restored and the tumor is more than 80% gone!!!!  Thank you again for your generosity and thoughtfulness as it means a lot to us.  We will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers."                                                                           

Asher, age 2: PWF pays the rent for Asher's family in Oklahoma. Happily, Asher's latest MRI was clear, but he will still require regular follow-up appointments and MRI's.

Zach, age 5:The Payton Wright Foundation continues to pay the monthly mortgage for Zach's family while he was undergoing treatment.  Zach has been fighting brain cancer most of his life and is a true inspiration to all that know him.  

Khloee, age 5:PWF helped with mortgage and other bills. Khloee was diagnosed just before her 2nd birthday with brain cancer.  She fought brain cancer and her latest MRI came back all clear!

Girl, 16: Diagnosed with a low grade glioma at the age of 16, this girl went through a few months of chemotherapy and a round of radiation before an aggressive 18 months of additional chemotherapy allowed her to be off therapy for more than a year. Although she was left with significant balance issues, she has improved enough to be allowed to earn her driver’s license. Due to her treatment, she missed the opportunity to take lessons as a free class in school, so now her family must pay for her to take them privately, a cost that the PWF will be covering. Once she completes high school, she wants to go to nursing school. (All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL)

Boy, 15: Diagnosed with a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma at 15, a boy underwent surgery and radiation and was stable for 3 years before relapsing. After the cancer progressed while he was on two different chemo regimens, he is now doing well on a phase I experimental study. While the boy needed new glasses, his family has limited resources and the glasses were not covered by insurance. The Payton Wright Foundation helped him get the glasses he needs. (All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL)

A kind note from Shands at the University of Florida:

"We are so thankful for the heartfelt experiences shared with us by the Payton Wright Foundation on Friday, February 25th. The founders of this organization, Holly & Patrick Wright, parents of Payton, who was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor in 2006 travelled to Gainesville to speak to our medical students about what it's like to be the parent of a child with brain cancer.  They understand all too well not only the physical toll that cancer takes on the child, but the emotional & financial damage cancer inflicts on the entire family. As a gift to the families who are cared for at UF & Shands, they gave us a generous 500$ donation to help families with travel and food expenses. Thank you! We are grateful that they continue to build their foundation to relieve the burden for patients & families currently fighting these devastating diseases while they also raise awareness & spend time educating current & future medical leaders on the vital importance of compassionate care of the entire family."