Hyundai Hope On Wheels Presents University Of New Mexico Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology With $100,000 Hyundai Impact Award Grant To Support Pediatric Cancer Research

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels® (HHOW), a 501c3 non-profit organization supported by Hyundai and its U.S. dealers, announces $100,000 Hyundai Impact Award Grant to Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at The University of New Mexico Children's Hospital to continue its long-standing fight against pediatric cancer. UNM Children's Hospital is one of 77 recipients receiving a combined $16 million in new grants this year to develop innovative approaches to finding a cure for the disease. The Hyundai Impact Award will be officially presented to Dr. John Kuttesch, Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at UNM Children's Hospital, Tuesday, August 20 at 9:30am.

HHOW remains one of the largest funders of pediatric cancer research in the nation. This year will reach $160 million in total lifetime funding since 1998 towards finding a cure. With this latest grant, UNM Children's Hospital has received $310,000 in total grants from HHOW.

This funding will help the Pediatric Oncology Program at UNM Children's Hospital improve patient care through improving patient needs and outcomes from diagnosis to survivorship and developing evidence-based family support for improved outcomes for both the patient and family. 

"We are honored to be the recipient of the Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Award," said Dr. John Kuttesch. "This funding will allow us to continue to provide the best care to all of our pediatric cancer patients through treatment research and family-centered care.  Our goal is to help the patient and the family from diagnosis through survivorship."

Every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer, affecting over 15,000 new cases for children and adolescents annually in the U.S. This year's campaign theme "Minutes are Precious" celebrates the many milestones in a child's life from birthdays, game days and graduation day.  By supporting innovative research and novel therapy, HHOW's goal is to ensure every child lives to enjoy more of life's precious moments for years to come.

"For 21 years, Hyundai and its dealers have partnered with medical doctor research teams from the top hospitals and institutions from around the country in a quest to finally beat this disease," says Scott Fink, Board Chair and Hyundai dealer owner, Hyundai of New Port Richey. "Hyundai's contributions have helped to significantly improve childhood cancer cure rates to more than 80 percent. This is why every minute is precious and every second matters in the fight against pediatric cancer."

The Pediatric Oncology Program at UNM is a component of UNM Children's Hospital and The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center.  In addition to their current patients, the program sees 60 newly diagnosed children and adolescents yearly.  The Pediatric Cancers Team at UNM is the only pediatric hematology/oncology program in New Mexico that offers access to National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored clinical trials, providing cutting-edge treatments to New Mexico's young patients to improve their outcomes and quality of life.  

During the event, children being treated at UNM Children's Hospital who are battling cancer will participate in the program's signature Handprint Ceremony, in which they'll dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on a white 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. Their colorful handprints on the official Hope Vehicle represent their individual and collective journeys, hopes and dreams.

For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels and to view a list of our 2019 Hope On Wheels grant winners, please visit www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org/research. Click here to watch the 2019 campaign video.  You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels , twitter.com/HopeOnWheels or Instagram.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels. 

For more information on UNM Children's Hospital, visit https://hsc.unm.edu/health/locations/childrens-hospital.html. For more information on the
Pediatric Oncology Program, visit https://hsc.unm.edu/health/patient-care/pediatrics/blood-disorders-cancers.html.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS
Hyundai Hope On Wheels^® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $160 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundai's technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance?our promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.

UNM CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
As New Mexico's only dedicated children's hospital and academic medical center, the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital has the most expertise in delivering advanced treatments for babies, children and adolescents. UNMH Children's Hospital's mission is to provide the children of New Mexico with comprehensive, family-centered health care that is unequaled in the state and region. UNM Children's Hospital cares for thousands of children from all over the state. The facility is New Mexico's only Children's Miracle Network Hospital.

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SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels