March 9 marks the devastating anniversary of the day my stepson Max died after a three-year battle with cancer. Max was 17 years old. I have dedicated most of the last 34 years to galvanizing the global community to help families avoid the suffering of the premature loss of their loved one. In the process, a thriving global network of people helping people emerged as a beacon of hope and light. The work we do at The Max Foundation elevates the common humanity and interconnectedness among all of us, no matter where we live. We are one, we long for the same, we need each other.
This year, March 9 finds us navigating difficult times yet unwilling to accept a global current that wants to convince us to focus on ourselves and ignore those most vulnerable among us.
While trying to find my footing, a news article published recently resonated with me and reminded me that our capacity to act with humanity is still intact. Today my feelings can be summarized in one short message: this is not the time to be a goldfish. I invite you to read my editorial, published in Devex, and share widely.
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez is the CEO of The Max Foundation. Under Pat’s direction The Max Foundation is dedicated to accelerating health equity by delivering medication, technology, and services to patients facing cancer and other critical illnesses, focusing our energy on those who no one else is helping. Pat lives in Edmonds, Washington, where she raised her four sons.
Tanner Pharma Group will serve as the title sponsor for The Max Foundation’s 2018 campaign “Max Global Experience: Uganda,” an expedition to raise awareness and funds for increased cancer treatment access in Africa.
February 21, 2018 · The Max Foundation and Dr. Jerry Radich of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are partnering to help tackle the problem of access to accurate tests for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries through Spot On CML. Spot On CML is a low-cost, paper-based diagnostic testing method for CML, developed by Dr. Radich’s lab at Fred Hutch. Through a Spot On CML test, a physician spots a patient’s blood onto a paper test card and sends it to Dr. Radich’s lab for processing, where they perform accurate diagnostic testing on the samples even after weeks of transport. Once patients are diagnosed, The Max Foundation connects them with available treatments free of charge.
Now in its 20th year, The Max Foundation is undergoing exciting strategic changes aimed at strengthening organizational efforts to improve global access to cancer treatment, care and support. To that end, we announce the launch of MaxAid, a subsidiary organization set up by The Max Foundation to further its mission. MaxAid is a Washington nonprofit corporation with its own IRS determination letter of 501(c)(3) public charity status.
