In a recent episode of the Help and Hope Happen Here podcast, our CEO Matt Giegerich sat down with host Mark Levine to share the deeply moving story behind the Matthew Larson Foundation and our ongoing mission to support families facing pediatric brain cancer.
Matt, who has led the foundation for the past 18 months, discussed the organization’s dual-purpose mission: providing immediate financial relief to families in the heat of battle and funding the high-level research necessary to change the future of pediatric oncology.
A Legacy of Strength: The Iron Matt Story
The foundation was born from the incredible spirit of a young boy named Matthew Larson. Diagnosed with Choroid Plexus Carcinoma at a young age, Matthew’s bravery earned him the nickname IronMatt. Though he passed away in 2007 at just seven years old, his parents Kelly and Greg turned their grief into a powerful force for good.
As Matt explained during the interview, the foundation continues to be fueled by that same IronMatt resolve, ensuring that no family has to walk this difficult path alone.
Two Pillars of Support
During the conversation, Matt highlighted the two primary ways we make an impact:
Financial Assistance: When a child is diagnosed, the financial burden on a family is often staggering. From travel costs for treatment to basic living expenses, the foundation provides direct aid to help families focus on what matters most: their child’s health.
Cutting-Edge Research: To date, the foundation has awarded over 100 research grants to scientists across the United States and Canada. These grants focus on discovering more effective, less toxic treatments for pediatric brain tumors, which remain one of the deadliest forms of childhood cancer.
A Call to Awareness
A major theme of the podcast was the critical need for increased public awareness. Despite being the leading cause of death by disease in children, pediatric cancer research remains significantly underfunded compared to adult cancers.
Matt emphasized that the foundation’s work is not just about writing checks. It’s about building a community of advocates who refuse to accept the status quo.
Looking Ahead
Under Matt’s leadership, we are more committed than ever to honoring Matthew’s memory by providing help and hope to every family in need.
“Our goal is simple but ambitious,” Matt shared during the episode. “We want to make sure every child has the chance to grow up, and every family has the support they need to get through the hardest days of their lives.”
Listen to the Full Episode
You can hear the full conversation between Matt Giegerich and Mark Levine on the Help and Hope Happen Here podcast here.
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