Faith in Humanity: Tempe foundation tries to ease stress for pediatric cancer patients’ families
May 1, 2015, 4:54 PM | Updated: Jun 1, 2015, 12:38 pm
A woman who lost her daughter to leukemia heads up a foundation that helps other families struggling with pediatric cancer.
Deb Leone started the Melonhead Foundation in 1997 after Melanie, then 11, was diagnosed with cancer.
The Tempe, Arizona-based foundation raises money for families’ expenses, including housing, utilities and gas.
Melonhead was a nickname the girl’s friends came up with after Melanie went bald because of chemotherapy.
Melanie died three years after diagnosis.
The organization is proud to say it has distributed almost $500,000 to 549 Arizona families.
