Marvin Tiger Foundation Gives Grant To Integrative Therapies Program For Children With Cancer

New York, NY – Jan. 29, 2002 – The Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer has been selected to receive one of five grants from the Marvin Tiger Foundation, in support of its aromatherapy service. “Our aromatherapy program has been quite successful in alleviating many of the side effects associated with conventional cancer therapy,” says Elena Ladas, director of the integrative therapies program, which provides complementary therapies and educational support to children with cancer and their families. “Aromatherapy is a non-invasive therapy that has helped improve the quality of life of many of our children during this distressing time,” Ms. Ladas says. “We are grateful to the Marvin Tiger Foundation for recognizing the importance of the work that we do and enabling us to continue to provide services to our many patients.” Dr. Kara Kelly, associate professor of pediatrics, and Dr. Michael Weiner, professor of clinical pediatrics and director of the division of pediatric oncology, established the Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer in 1997. It provides supportive services including nutritional counseling, herbal counseling, massage therapy, Reiki, and aromatherapy, and educational resources to help children and their families cope with both the emotional and physical stress of cancer treatment. Ongoing research explores natural therapeutic options to alleviate the toxicity and discomfort of cancer treatments in children. The Integrative Therapies Program was established under the auspices of Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and is a component of the division of pediatric oncology at the Children’s Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the first pediatric oncology division in the country to mainstream complementary medicine with traditional therapies of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. The Marvin Tiger Foundation, located in Brooklyn, N.Y., is dedicated to improving the lives and easing the burdens of children and their families who are affected by life-threatening illness. The foundation sponsors unique programs that provide recreation, enrichment, and support. The award will be presented to Ms. Ladas during a ceremony on Jan. 31.

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