Our History
Friends of the Jimmy Everest Center
Friends of the Jimmy Everest Center is a childhood cancer fundraising campaign established in 2016 under Children’s Health Foundation, a 501c3 organization with a 4-star Charity Navigator rating. The campaign supports children battling cancer and their families through innovative programs, events, care, and research, with a goal of ending childhood cancer.
Each year, another 100 Oklahoma children are diagnosed with cancer. Hundreds are on active treatment at the Jimmy Everest Center, Oklahoma’s comprehensive children’s cancer center. Our hope is that through our efforts these children will receive the advanced care they need close to home, that their doctors will have access to the latest cancer drugs and treatment protocols, and that researchers will have the financial support needed to make new discoveries that improve pediatric cancer treatment and survival. Thanks to our efforts, though, children with cancer and their families also enjoy a variety of engaging events aimed at providing respite from the rigors of cancer treatment.
Race For Time Ardmore is our biggest event of the year, hosted each year during September, Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
Race for Time
RACE FOR TIME ARDMORE, started by the owners of Ardmore’s Southern Oklahoma Speedway John and Nicky Webb and expanded with the help of Jim and Theresa Green in 2020, raises awareness and funds for our mission. Last year, we raised $90,000 and CHF secured a dollar-for-dollar match to fuel childhood cancer research.
RACE FOR TIME now welcomes more than 100 Oklahoma children fighting cancer and family members to Ardmore as VIP guests. Arriving by train in Ardmore, these pediatric cancer warriors enjoy a night of racing, rides in real race cars, free meals and a free stay in an Ardmore hotel Saturday night. After a restful night, the children and families are transported back to Ardmore’s downtown Depot Park for another fabulous day, featuring a car show along Caddo Street, a FREE CARNIVAL with Balloon Twisters, Face Painters, Silk Dancers, a Magician and more! The event at Ardmore’s Depot Park is open to the community too.
With the funds raised through our efforts, Friends of the Jimmy Everest has sponsored cancer patients at Cavett Kids annual ski camp, hosted a Summer Extravaganza for pediatric cancer patients and their families, and is currently funding the remodeling and upgrade of the theater room at the OK Kids Korral, where childhood cancer patients from across Oklahoma and their families stay free of charge while undergoing treatment in Oklahoma City. In addition, Friends of the Jimmy Everest Center hosts an exclusive night at the Oklahoma Science Museum for young cancer patients and their families, transporting them into their own Polar Express experience just before Christmas.
RACE FOR TIME is fueled by young patients like Jase. Diagnosed as a toddler with the same rare cancer that killed s brother. Jase fought hard for life and loved everything about Race For Time Ardmore. He lost his battle last year at the age of eight. It is in memory of children like Jase and in honor of those brave children still fighting the war that we remain committed to our goals – to help make life a little better for these youngsters and their families, and to raise money aimed at helping ensure they get the best care close to home and that research advances aimed at finding a cure for Childhood Cancer. There is nothing we want more than to never have to see another child diagnosed with cancer!
All that we do is made possible through the generous donations of others who, like us, want to do all we can to help these children WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER. Thank you to our sponsors, our volunteers and our supporters.
JOIN THE FIGHT!
Your donation can help Oklahoma children battling cancer by ensuring they receive the best possible care and funding research for a cure!