The Cancer Warriors Foundation is the embodiment of a dream ---- that no Filipino child will suffer a diminished quality of life because of cancer.

The Cancer Warriors Foundation is founded on the conviction that cancer can be beaten, if detected early, given proper management and care, and armed with the unwavering faith, that “God will make a way”. This was the song that sustained and inspired James during his long and difficult battle with a rare form of brain cancer.

The Cancer Warriors Foundation is the fulfillment of a promise ---- a promise made by a 19 year old boy (James), as he himself was battling brain cancer.  A promise that every Filipino child, stricken with cancer, especially the poor and disadvantaged, will have an equal chance to conquer cancer and to avail of cancer treatments.

Upon his recovery, James vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to fighting cancer, in whatever way he could.  Together with a group of passionate and committed young volunteers, he found a way to make good on his promise.  In May, 2000, Cancer Warriors Foundation was organized.

The Foundation's Trustees is composed of dedicated men and women whose families' lives have been touched by cancer and who have committed to help in the FIGHT against cancer.  They are all respected leaders in the various fields and disciplines where they are connected.  Each one of them has made a mark and significant contributions, towards, making a difference in the lives of the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged.

A Board of Advisers composed of representatives from key sectors of the community has also been formed.

The Cancer Warriors Foundation is a living tribute to the passion caring and courageous spirit of young people.  It is essentially a volunteer network of young people who have committed and are freely sharing their time, skills and resources to advance the fight against childhood cancers and to assist in the treatment and care of poor and disadvantaged kids stricken with cancer.

The Cancer Warriors Foundation is committed to the FIGHT against cancer. It will pursue the following:

Y      F acilitating increased awareness and understanding of childhood cancers, with emphasis on early detection, proper management and care.

Y    I nitiating programs and activities that will inspire cancer patients, survivors and their families, that there is hope and life, even with cancer.

Y      G enerating support and pro-active involvement of various sectors in information/education/communication (IEC), and advocacy, especially on childhood cancers.

Y    H elping ensure that poor and impoverished children with cancer will have access to timely and appropriate diagnosis, proper treatment and quality care.

Y    T aking the lead in building and strengthening linkages and encouraging resource – sharing, between and among local and international groups, involved in cancer prevention and care.

The Cancer Warriors Foundation is engaged in innovative programs and activities to bring across its message and challenge: LET'S HELP KIDS BEAT CANCER.

The first project of the foundation was the highly successful Bike for Life: A Journey of Hope, A Journey for Life.  Bike for Life was a fund-raising as well as consciousness-raising initiative which raised to the level of national consciousness and brought to various cities and municipalities, the realities, faces and challenges of childhood cancers.

James and a core team of nine bikers, biked from Manila to Cebu, for two weeks, traversing a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometers, and making a total of 15 stopovers.  In each stopover, local bikers group numbering from 50-300 biked with James and his team.  Local groups also organized symposiums/forums on cancer awareness.  Hundreds of people attended the gatherings, providing support and cheering the bikers on.  It is estimated that "Bike for Life" reached no less than 10,000 people in these local symposiums/forums.  Many others formed caravans and joined the bikers for part of the way.  National and local media provided continuous and extensive coverage of the event and generated even more mileage vis-ä-vis cancer consciousness.

In addition, Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. was able to enlist the support of a number of business corporations and civic groups.  Bike for Life raised a total of P1 million in cash and pledges and about the same amount in contributions of services and collaterals.  Other sponsors donated goods, mainly cancer medications and consumer products as as commitments for use of their facilities for future activities of the foundation.  To date, 25 children have been assisted and 10 of them have fully recovered and gone back to normal life.

Three other strategic fundraising and cancer consciousness event undertaken by the foundation are: 1) CANCERT (Kantahan Para sa Kapataang May Kanser): This was undertaken in collaboration with choral groups of colleges and universities in Metro Manila.  One thousand tickets were sold for this event which was held in September, 2001 in the AFP Theater; 2) Play for Life, undertaken in collaboration with MBA basketball players.  It was held in February 2002 in Makati and 3) Basura Para Sa Buhay, a recycling cum cancer consciousness and fund raising project.

Cancer Warrior volunteers have also joined high visibility, premium sports events with national media coverage such as the Samal Extreme Challenge (November 2000) and the Annual Urban Jungle in Manila, Cebu, Baguio as well as continuously undertaking electronic mail and text info-giving and solicitation on childhood cancers.