Pediatric Hospitals and Pediatric Cancer Research
Martin Truex Jr. Pediatric Care Center at Southern Ocean Medical Center
In 2009, Southern Ocean Medical Center, formerly known as Southern Ocean County Hospital (SOCH) in
Manahawkin, NJ approached Martin and the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation with an opportunity to support his
hometown community through a new pediatric emergency department building expansion plan.
Phase I opening in August of 2013 now has emergency room care, pediatric care and psychiatric care.
Martin was able to join the Hospital and staff in September of 2013 for the dedication. It was important to
him that the new Emergency Department is a child and family-friendly area for pediatric patients that provides
exceptional care while being respectful of the special needs children and parents of children injured or ill may be feeling.
The space, while operating in an Emergency Department, is designed to be less intimidating.
Levine Children’s Hospital
In 2008, long-time girlfriend of Martin Truex Jr., Sherry Pollex, suggested they host a fashion show to help raise funds for unmet financial needs of families with children being treated at the Levine Children’s Hospital (LCH) in Charlotte, NC. The inaugural event hosted approximately 50 guests and raised close to $10K. This enabled a Special Needs Fund to be established with financially deserving families now having a place to turn. The instances are numerous each year for those families already struggling with the high costs of cancer treatment when, unexpectedly, something non-medically related goes wrong and there is no extra money. No one should have to make a choice on replacing a home water heater or cover the cost of a treatment for their child fighting for his or her life.
Fast forward 5 years: 2013 was a record breaking event with over 500 guests in attendance. The Foundation was able to raise $100K. We are now an ongoing partner with LCH thanks to the success of this annual event and the generosity of our sponsors, donors and ticket holders.
In addition to the Special Needs Fund, this past July, MTJF partnered in the launch of the Ryan Seacrest Studio at Levine Children’s Hospital, one of only six studios of its kind in the U.S. The closed circuit radio/TV station in hospital lobby broadcasts to every child’s room for interactive fun, games, surprise musical talent and a host of other activities as a distraction from the day-in and day-out routine of hospital care and treatment.
Our 2014 goal is to branch into providing pediatric cancer research funding through partnerships with other organizations with limited funding ability and hospitals that specialize in the research to provide Phase I and II trials.
Here are a few facts:
• Cancer is the #1 disease killer of children in the U.S., claiming more lives annually than asthma, AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, and Muscular Dystrophy combined.
• 46 U.S. children are diagnosed with cancer each weekday – 1 out of 5 will not survive.
• Less than 3% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget is allocated to pediatric cancer.
