In 1976, a group of Rochester parents who lost their children to cancer along with several local doctors formed an organization called CURE Childhood Cancer Association. It was their belief that it was important that more help be provided to families of children that are diagnosed with cancer. They determined that during this time families needs included; counseling, understanding, resource and education. Out of these beliefs CURE Childhood Cancer Association was born.  Since then, CURE has become a model for other childhood cancer groups around the nation.

CURE publishes a Parent Child Handbook. This book, is designed and serves as a comprehensive guide for parents as they confront the many aspects and treatments of childhood cancer. Topics covered in the handbook include therapies, drugs and their side effects as well as a guide to the hospital and medical staff. This handbook has been expanded over the years and now includes community resources as well as informative Internet sites.

In the mid 1980s, CURE developed the Parent Advocate Program. Working closely with Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, guidelines were developed for a position to be filled by a parent of a child who had had cancer. Today, our Parent Advocate program is a nationally recognized model and is used by others to train parent advocates across the country.

During the 1980, CURE expanded their outreach and services to include working with hospitalized children and their schools to assure a smooth transition in and out of school while the child is in treatment. CURE's educational liaison program now assists families in the developmental and educational needs of children undergoing cancer treatment.

As cancer treatments have become increasingly effective, more children survive into adulthood. A major part of CURE's mission now involves working with cancer survivors providing them with resources that will educate them so that they are able to maintain their health and independence, often in the face of recurring health issues. As part of this outreach program, CURE publishes Voyages: A Map to Survivorhood, a guide that informs children and families on the many issues of long-term survivorship.

CURE has evolved over the last 32 years. But one thing that has not changed is our commitment to families and children from in and around the Rochester area who are facing the effects of childhood cancer.

We will continue to provide services for these families that make it a little easier to cope with the words, "Your child has cancer."