Max's Ring of Fire supports the Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium or NMTRC. Based in Michigan but with core sites in San Diego, St. Louis, and Orlando, this pediatric oncology research and translational medicine program's mission is to provide children with more precise, predictive approaches to treating advanced neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma.

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We need your DONATIONS to help us give researchers and doctors the tools they need. 100% of every donated dollar is guaranteed to fund meaningful neuroblastoma research and clinical trials NOW!

An ongoing inspiration for many people, Max was born on June 30, 2001. He was diagnosed with stage IV, high-risk neuroblastoma in October 2004. He whizzed through frontline treatment and by the following summer was effectively on the road back to a "normal" life - albeit with almost total hearing loss, a new immune system, and about 10lbs to gain back, all courtesy of Mr. Chemo.

Unfortunately, Max relapsed (as most high-risk NB patients do) in November 2006. Max fought bravely, entering a clinical trial in Vermont where he received nifurtimox in combination with other chemo agents. This combination diminished the disease until there was just one tiny spot still evident on his spine. But in February 2008 the beast came roaring back and we could never control it again, despite everything we tried. Max passed away on August 31, 2008 at 8:45pm in his mommy and daddy's bed.

Read more of Max's incredible fight.

About Max's Ring of Fire

Why the name Max's Ring of Fire? Well for one thing, it was one of Max's favorite songs (the Social Distortion version. He sang it frequently, especially while playing with Legos, or when his big sister Hannah and he were playing with the karaoke machine.

We are a foundation started by parents of a pediatric cancer patient, dedicated to working with cancer researchers and oncologists to speed up discoveries of potentially life-saving new drugs for children with relapsed neuroblastoma. The goal is to find innovative, low toxicity, treatments through funding of clinical trials and other research.
 

Max's Ring of Fire (MROF), a 501(c)3 tax-exempt public charity is a pediatric cancer fundraising and advocacy organization that supports innovative neuroblastoma research and clinical trials. We are dedicated to funding practical, relevant Phase I and II clinical trials which are based on research from the scientific team of the NMTRC. We also focus on speed and options for kids, by bringing new therapies to the bedside NOW for the patients that need them most - those with advanced relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma. These are the hard cases that many of researchers overlook.

The charity was founded in 2008 by Andy and Melissa Mikulak of San Diego, California in honor of their late son Max, a courageous inspiration who was diagnosed with the disease at the age of three. Max battled hard against the disease for four years until the age of seven.
Andy Mikulak, Chairman
Melissa Mikulak, Director
Brian Dupin, Director