About Us

Just One More Day … for Love, Hope & a Cure is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping kids affected by cancer.

Mission Statement

Just One More Day … for Love, Hope & a Cure! was created to increase Awareness about Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas, fund research, and give children and their families who are living with cancer a chance for hope, care and love.

Alicia’s Story

Alicia Martin was an out-going, energetic sweet little six year old girl who loves swimming, cheerleading, reading and school. Alicia was enjoying her last week of summer (2005) and playing with her sister Ashley, when she started having double vision. Her mother was concerned because Alicia had bumped her head while playing in the pool the day before. She was taken to the local emergency room. The doctors said her head was fine where she bumped it.  However, they found something more troubling. Alicia was rushed to Florida Hospital in Orlando and there they preformed an MRI on her brain. They noticed a tumor in Alicia's brain where her brainstem meets her brain. She was diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. She was one of only 150-200 children in all of the United States diagnosed with this condition.

A Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma is a tumor located in the Pons region of the brainstem. The location of the tumor makes it inoperable. Pontine Glioma tumors affect the cranial nerves, causing symptoms related to the nerves that supply the muscles of the eye and face, and muscles involved in swallowing. These symptoms include double vision, inability to close the eyelids completely, dropping one side of the face, and difficulty chewing and swallowing. The tumor also affects the "long tracks" of the brain, resulting in weakness of the arms or legs and difficulty with speech and walking. Symptoms usually worsen rapidly because the tumor is rapidly growing. They also block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, causing increased pressure with headaches and vomiting.

Alicia battled this tumor for almost eighteen months.  She fought hard and rarely complained.  Sadly on Saturday, December 23, 2006 at 6:15 p.m. Alicia passed away in her mothers arms.  This site will help preserve the memory of a true angel, ~Alicia Marie Martin~   She touched so many during her short eight years here on us.  She will be forever missed, yet Never forgotten.  To learn more about Alicia and her journey please visit Alicia's Hope and www.caringbridge.org/visit/angelaliciamartin

Officers & Committees

Christine V. Martin

Kathleen M. Rogers

Richard P. Rogers

Sandy Smith

Erika Hauschildt

Kim Spady

Jonathan Agin