(Washington, DC) — Hyundai Hope on Wheels today donated a $100,000 grant to Georgetown University Hospital in support of an innovative nutrition program for children with cancer. The program, called “Cooking for Cancer,” will help increase patients’ tolerance to higher medication doses and decrease their chances of developing infection.

“Good nutrition for cancer patients is an important, but often neglected component of cancer care. Good nutrition allows children to handle the side effects of therapy better and also enables cancer survivors to live healthy lives,” explained Aziza T. Shad, MD, chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. “We are so excited to be the recipients of the 2011 Hyundai Hope Grant which will allow us to establish the “Cooking for Cancer” Program for children being treated for cancer here at Georgetown University Hospital.”

The check was presented during a ceremony at Georgetown where DC-area children who are battling cancer placed their handprints in colorful paint on a canvas to represent each of their personal triumphs. Georgetown University Hospital is among 71 recipients of a Hyundai Hope on Wheels 2011 Hope Grant, where a total of $7.1 million will be awarded to support research and programs in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

For the second year in a row, Hyundai’s competitive September program allowed institutions to apply for either research or programmatic grants. The submitted proposals were then reviewed by Hyundai’s elite board of medical directors. Each of the 71 Hope Grants will help fund new pediatric cancer research projects.

Media Contact: Marianne Worley
Phone: 703-558-1287
Email: WorleyM@gunet.georgetown.edu

Patient Contact: 202-342-2400