Salem Father, Local Non-Profit Delivering Hope to Kids with Cancer

Each year, dozens of children in New Hampshire are diagnosed with some form of cancer.

Over 13 years ago, Salem resident and Budget Committee Chairman Dane Hoover watched as his 2-year-old son, Dane Hoover III, became one of those kids.

The diagnosis was bleak – a rare form of childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma, which Hoover says impacts only 300 or so children in the United States each year.

The two years of treatments, as they often do, left the Hoover family in turmoil. 

"I ended up getting divorced (and) going financially bankrupt," he said.

Young Dane went through a two-year treatment plan at Boston Children's Hospital, complete with a double bone marrow transplant where it took him 10 days to wake up.

"The transplant was basically experimental at the time because they were using stem cells from his own body," Hoover said of his son.

Hoover is now determined to make sure no parent struggles as much as he did if their child is diagnosed with cancer.

His way to accomplish that goal is through a group of special parent volunteers, most of whom went through what he went through at some point in time.

They are known as the Childhood Cancer Lifeline of New Hampshire, and according to Hoover, they are committed to every youth in the state battling cancer.

When a child's cancer is first identified, the non-profit finds out about the diagnosis through the hospital and sends an initial package to the family. Inside is food, gas cards and other items to help the family out during their difficult time. 

"Basically any kid that gets cancer we get help, even if they are in Boston getting treatment or Maine or Vermont," Hoover said.

Taking assistance one step further, the non-profit's leaders also help counsel families about how to tackle some of the daily struggles of a cancer diagnosis.

Since the mid-1990's, Childhood Cancer Lifeline has also provided over $500,000 in direct cash assistance to families.

Hoover and his son were introduced to the organization from the words on a pamphlet, sent to their household shortly after the two-year treatment plan was complete.

The brochure spoke of a special place for them to spend time with others who had dealt with their pain.

"The first thing (my son and I) did in public was go to this thing called Camp Winning Spirit," Hoover said.

Hosted at Camp Coniston, a 1,200-acre property surrounding a private lake in Croydon, N.H., up to 40 families of kids with cancer are invited to enjoy a long weekend of activities, counseling and community.

"At the time my son was withdrawn, and that was the first time in two years that he had opened up to people. The fact that he would walk away from me and go off and have fun without me was a victory," Hoover said.

The camp is also devoted to siblings of cancer patients. Hoover said they often struggle with the lack of attention paid to them while a family tangles with a cancer diagnosis.

Hoover didn't have any other children when his son was first diagnosed. He is now married to his second wife, Tracey, and the couple has four kids. Tracey is also vice president of Childhood Cancer Lifeline.

Two years ago, the couple helped organize the Childhood Cancer Lifeline 5K Run/Walk in Salem.

Sponsored by Margaritas, the race raised about $10,000 for the organization in 2012.

That money paid for the $4,000 cost of Camp Winning Spirit and provided thousands more for family care packages.

Hoover noted that if people can't make the race, they can still donate by signing up as a racer and then contacting info@childhoodcancerlifeline.org to notify the organization that they will not be racing.

The race will take place on Sept. 21 at 12 p.m. on 1 Keewaydin Drive in Salem. A fun walk will follow at 12:15 p.m. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.

To register on your own or with a team, visit here.

To donate to Childhood Cancer Lifeline, visit here.