The horror of learning your child has been diagnosed with cancer is something most of us can't even begin to imagine.

But when it does happen, it might help to know you aren't alone.There are many organizations and foundations that focus on pediatric cancer, providing support in a variety of ways.The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, based in Bethlehem, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and families in the Lehigh Valley, including Carbon, Monroe counties.It offers free programming and support during treatment, survivorship and bereavement. Programs include:• Chemo Circus provides a fun, entertaining distraction for children in active treatment.• Art Soup, an informal drop-off art therapy program, provides children the opportunity to work with local artists, while getting a chance to express themselves creatively.• Support Group sessions focus on specific groups in need, such as bereaved parents.• Lessons and Laughter is a monthly parent workshop, with a different topic each month, followed by time to connect and share with other parents.• Moms' and Dads' nights out provide caretakers some respite time and some fun.• Event tickets to different sporting and entertainment venues provide families with fun and camaraderie.PCFLV also offers financial support, such as gas, grocery and hospital cafeteria gift cards to families during cancer treatment. Comfort bags are given to families at diagnosis to help them get through the first few days and weeks at the hospital.Staff members make home and hospital visits. They deliver gifts, distractions and gift cards. Birthday cards and gifts are also sent to diagnosed children, survivors and siblings.They also give end-of-treatment gifts to children when they reach that milestone.Financial support is provided to families during the holidays in the form of gift cards though the "Annual Adopt-A-Family" program.The foundation also makes donations to research organizations like St. Baldrick's throughout the year to help support research with the hope of finding better treatment and a cure.The foundation hosts events throughout the year that are both fun and informative, such as:• Camp Smile: A weeklong day camp for children in treatment, survivors and siblings, featuring art, theater, sports, swimming and special guests.• Big Top Circus: A carnival for PCFLV families, with games, prizes and entertainment.• Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month: PCFLV offers "30 Days, 30 Stories" showcasing a different fighter each day throughout September on Facebook and the website.• Dorney Day: PCFLV and Alex's Lemonade Stand families are invited to spend an all-expenses paid day at Dorney Park.It takes money for the foundation to function. PCFLV is funded through fundraisers, grants and donations.Fundraising events include:• Fight-For-Sam takes place in February and celebrates leukemia survivor Sam Grady. It's a combination Zumbathon, Spin-A-Thon, and Body Combat session, which takes place at Gold's Gym in Whitehall.• 5K Walk/8K Run to Live is held at the end of March at the Ironton Rail Trail in Coplay. This is a fun and inspirational time for families, volunteers, donors and the community.• An annual golf outing is held in September at Green Pond Country Club, Bethlehem, and includes a raffle, silent auction, lunch and a visit from a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.• Hearts of Gold Gala is held in November at Metro Beauty Academy in Allentown. It's a black-tie optional, adults-only event featuring a live auction of paintings on canvas created by PCFLV children, as well as a silent auction, food, music and celebrity emcees.For more information on PCFLV, visit pcflv.org or like them on Facebook.FAMILY FoundationsTwo of the families who shared their stories of their children during our monthlong series have each created foundations to honor the memory of their children."Dylan and Gavin's Rainbow" is a ministry which was created to lovingly reach out to families who are dealing with a serious condition of a child, as well as families who experience the death of a child.According to Lora Krum, who lost both her sons to cancer, "Our main mission is to find ways to provide personal support and empathy to these families, as they face their toughest days. It's a 'pay it forward' idea based on the loving support that Dave and I received from so many others, as our sons suffered their fierce and fast battles (both only about eight weeks) with different forms of pediatric cancer, and then faced their deaths."As we continue on our own grief journey, we have recognized the struggle that many people face in their attempts to integrate themselves back into family, social, work, and other life environments ... after they have faced loss."'Dylan and Gavin's Rainbow' decided that a way to reach out to the wider community would be to provide a supportive, safe and accepting forum for grieving people, especially during the 'holiday season,' which can be especially difficult to deal with, no matter how many years have passed by."One of the foundation's biggest events is the Snowflake 5K and Remembrance Weekend, which will be held this year on Dec. 12.It is "a full day of events to provide a sense of community, hope and support to those who grieve, and those who walk alongside of those who grieve."It is geared to support grieving families in the midst of the holiday season."When everyone else wants you to somehow 'forget' the pain of grief."It also coincides with the Worldwide Children's Remembrance Service" which the Krums have held locally for the past five years. It will take place this year on Dec. 13."Grief is something we live with forever," says Krum. "Just as families with children who are survivors are forever frightened of the possibility of the return of the disease."While helping others helps Krum and her husband, she says people need to understand that the need for support for these families continues, "even as you feel the benefits of providing support for others."The grieving process is a continued struggle, she says.For more information about Dylan and Gavin's Rainbow, like them on Facebook.The family of Jacob Grecco created Jacob's Hero Foundation in his memory.From July 2011 when Jacob experienced his seizure and was later diagnosed with brain cancer, gliomatosis cerebri, until he passed away in his mother's arms on Aug. 1, 2012, at the tender age of 8, Jacob "The Hero" Grecco was exactly that: a hero."He laughed, he cried and he battled," writes his mother, Stacey Gravina. "That battle took his life, but never extinguished the light he shone into the world."During the year Jacob was sick, he and his family experienced an extraordinary surge of spiritual, emotional and material support from friends, family and their community. After his passing, his family tried to wrap their minds around the generosity (often of strangers) and how they could ever "repay" them.However, the grief was too thick and muddled every moment of every day. Survival was learning a new way to live: to live with grief, to carry on for Jacob's brothers, Alex and Joshua and his stepbrothers, Henry and Logan.Jacob's family tried to find bereavement services which would specifically help their family. This turned out to be very difficult and time consuming, in large part because the first and most daunting step was to come to terms with the isolation created by such a traumatic loss.While they were sporadically able to find therapeutic outlets, there were gaps in the bereavement services available for those who have suffered the loss of a child.They knew that they wanted to do something in Jacob's name, and this is where Jacob's light pointed them. As a family, they decided to establish Jacob's Hero Foundation, which will ultimately fund a center called South of Heaven.South of Heaven will offer a refuge where families can go for a variety of services and support to grieve, rebuild and move forward."Currently we are offering support groups in conjunction with PCFLV for bereaved families," says Gravina. "Over time we will slowly expand our services."To learn more, visit

www.jacobsherofoundation.com, or email

jacobsherofoundation@gmail.com.Even if cancer hasn't affected your life, you can help. To support research, find a cure or help a child, visit these websites:CureSearch: curesearch.orgPediatric Cancer Research Fund: www.pcrf-kids.orgChildrens Hospital of Philadelphia and Children's Cancer Research Foundation: chop.eduSt. Baldrick's Foundation: stbaldricks.orgAlex's Lemonade Stand: alexslemonade.orgCannonball Kids' cancer Foundation: cannonballkidscancer.orgOrganizations that support children, families, and/or research:Max Love Project: maxloveproject.orgAngel 34: angel34.orgJessie Rees Foundation: negu.orgHannah Duffy Foundation: hannahduffy.org/Dream Come True:dreamcometrue-brc.orgSeptember is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.To help spread the word throughout the month we shared stories of several families affected by this insidious disease through our series: The voices of pediatric cancer.In their words, these families spoke about what it feels like to learn your child has cancer, to watch them suffer through treatment, the heartbreak of loss and the promise of hope.Visit tnonline.com to learn more about these amazing families and these young warriors.