On July 12, 2012, the Langseder family of Hockessin, Delaware, made a special gift to benefit children with cancer. Through the Jack Langseder Forever Strong Foundation at the Delaware Community Foundation, the family donated $25,000 in memory of their son, Jack, who was a patient of Nemours.

Jack succumbed to Ewing’s sarcoma, a relatively rare form of bone cancer, in 2009 at the age of 13. The Langseders’ generous gift will support research being carried out by the Nemours Center for Cancer and
Blood Disorders.

“Jack was a brave and wonderful boy. We miss him every day," said Jack's mother, Meghan Langseder. "We know he would be proud of what we’re doing to help find
a cure.”

Andy Kolb, MD, the center’s director, along with pediatric oncologists Robin Miller, MD, and Andrew Walter, MD, thanked the family on behalf of the hospital. Dr. Kolb said, “It was a privilege caring for Jack, a remarkable young man. Through this gift, his family is doing something to help other children with cancer, investing in research. Although we have made great strides in curing children with many forms of cancer, there are obstacles we face each day and many diseases remain incurable. Unfortunately, metastatic and relapsed Ewing’s sarcoma is one of those incurable childhood cancers.”

Dr. Kolb described the current cancer treatment regimens for children that are often based on decades-old drugs designed for adults, some of which have long-term side effects. In addition, he emphasized that “about 15 percent of children with cancer do not survive, even with our best efforts at treatment. Research will ultimately provide us with the answers.”

Jack Langseder participated in a clinical trial using a drug first validated in our laboratories at Nemours as being effective for Ewing’s sarcoma. Today, researchers have moved on to the next phase of clinical testing with this class of drug, and the Langseders’ donation will be applied towards supporting that trial.

Dr. Kolb applauded the Langseder family for their fundraising efforts to support research and for their generosity in remembering their son in a most meaningful way. Forever Strong is dedicated to the support of research and clinical trials and to raising awareness about Ewing’s sarcoma. For more about the foundation, visit www.4evrstrong.org.