South Brunswick's Hugs for Brady Foundation Starts New Chapter in Fight Against Pediatric Cancer

Sparked by an unimaginable tragedy in 2010, South Brunswick's Hugs for Brady Foundation has continued to grow and help local families in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Recently, the foundation gained a helping hand in supporting kids in need of assistance in the fight for their lives. ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Somerset recently announced a partnership with Hugs for Brady to help the foundation raise awareness surrounding childhood cancers, provide resources for patients and their families, support new research initiatives and educate the public about available treatment options.  

ProCure will join as a sponsor to help support several Hugs for Brady initiatives, including the blood drives, the annual twilight 5K and Family Run and the foundation’s largest fundraising event, the annual Hugs for Brady Winter Gala. 

“We are thrilled to welcome ProCure Proton Therapy Center as an ally in our fight to eradicate pediatric cancer,” said Sherrie Wells, founder of Hugs for Brady.  “After touring the ProCure Center, we were inspired by the dedication of ProCure’s entire team- from receptionist to clinician, and we look forward to working together to continue our mission of bringing hope and support to families of children with cancer.” 

Hugs for Brady was started by Mike and Sherrie Wells, of Kendall Park, in honor of their son Brady, who died in July 2010 at the age of 23 months after a difficult battle with pediatric leukemia.

The Wells started the Hugs for Brady Foundation with the goal of helping the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital (BMSCH) fight pediatric cancer. The non-profit organization supports all causes concerning pediatric cancer, from buying custom built wagons, computers, televisions and video games for patients, to helping finance a pediatric/hematology fellowship program.

The organization has gone on to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for families with kids fighting cancer.

“Joining forces with the Hugs for Brady Foundation to help raise awareness surrounding pediatric cancer is an important mission for us,” said Oren Cahlon, medical director and director of pediatrics at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center.  “We see many pediatric cases so, unfortunately, our staff is familiar with the heartache and pressures that young patients and their families face.  

"Our professional team has been thoroughly impressed with the generous toy and flower deliveries that Hugs for Brady sends to so many patients, including our own.  As Hugs for Brady enters its fourth year of service, we are eager to help the organization ease and ultimately eliminate pediatric cancer, as well as help to make proton therapy accessible as an available treatment option to all patients who can benefit from it.”

Proton therapy is a precise radiation treatment for cancer without many of the short and long-term side effects experienced with standard X-ray radiation and is often used as the preferred treatment for pediatric cancers as it can minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue while reducing the risk of secondary cancers, according to ProCure. 

Procure is the only proton therapy facility in the New Jersey and New York region and one of only 12 facilities in the country. 

For more information, visit www.procure.com.