Parents try to shield their children from everyday dangers. They hold hands as they cross the street, tell them to look both ways for cars and buckle them into their car seats.

As much as parents try to protect their children, there are vulnerable circumstances that are beyond a parentás control. Childhood cancer is one of them.

During the scary and painful diagnosis and treatment, families rely on each other and the help of others to get them through the day-to-day activities and to be a beacon of light.

The Brian Morden Foundation is one place where local families who have a child diagnosed with cancer have turned. The foundation was created by Dawn Morden, who lost her beloved son Brian in 2003. At only 19 years old, he lost his courageous battle with Ewingás Sarcoma.

âHe was a very unique kid. His third-grade teacher said he marched to the beat of different drum,ã said Morden.

She started the foundation in his memory in May of 2003. âI definitely started it to honor Brian and to keep fighting. I promised to keep fighting for him and for all of these kids,ã said Morden.

The Brian Morden Foundation raises money for childhood cancer research, which is a research area that is extremely underfunded. Since 2003, the foundation has given more than $125,000 to child cancer research. The foundation similarly provides scholarships to people who are positively impacting the lives of others.

Also part of the foundationás mission is to reach out to children and families in hospitals and oncology units. The foundation gives families gift cards each month for gas that are used to get to and from treatments ä many of which are out of the area.

The foundation also provides âBrianás Bagsã to the child patients fighting cancer. Addison Zearfaus of Hollidaysburg, the foundationás January spotlight child, loves to receive the foundationás âBrianás Bagsã on holidays and other occasions. She is currently undergoing treatment for Acute Lympho-blastic Leukemia and is in the maintenance phase of her chemotherapy. She is being homeschooled while in treatment.

Addisonás mom, Jessica Zearfaus, said how much Addison delights in receiving the specialized bags. âShe likes Applebeeás, and Dawn gave her a gift card for there. She loves mermaids and dolphins, and thereás always something with her interests in the bags. Dawn is now a part of the family and is so sweet and caring. She also gives bags to Addisonás sisters Macy and Bailey during the holidays,ã Zearfaus said.

The monthly spotlighted child gets to make a $1,000 donation from the foundation to a charity of choice. Addisonás donation went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in her honor.

Timothy Boyle is the foundationás February spotlight. He is a 10 year Non-Hodgkinás Lymphoma survivor. Timothy, now 17 years old and a student at Altoona Area High School, has endured more than 30 surgeries in the past 15 years.

Through it all, Timothy has kept a positive attitude and never let the disease stop him from doing anything. His mother, Leah Boyles, said heás played soccer, basketball and football. âHe loves to play video games, hanging with friends and going to amusement parks. He has his permit and is your typical 17- year- old kid,ã she said.

Half of Timothyás donation will go to the Brian Morden Memorial Scholarship Fund and the other half will be sent to Child Life at Pittsburgh Childrenás Hospital in honor of Timothy.

âWe decided that $500 should go toward scholarships at the foundation for graduating seniors to help them. Many past recipients have gone into the medical field and keep making a difference,ã said Boyles.

Boyles now serves on the board of the foundation and appreciates being able to give back to others. Zearfaus is hoping to volunteer with foundation after Addison is done with her treatments, which will be in August. Both are thankful to have Morden on their side in waging the war against cancer.

âDawn and her foundation are such a blessing. Iám so appreciative of her help. I know how happy Addison feels when Dawn visits. She is so caring and so loving and her presence makes you happy. She brings you peace and comfort ä sheás truly meant to be doing what sheás doing,ã said Zearfaus.

If you are interested in learning more about the foundation, wish to make a donation or know of someone who may need assistance, visit: www.brianmordenfoundation.org.