Hyundai Hope on Wheels, local Hyundai dealers make $160K impact to keiki cancer care

Hyundai Hope on Wheels and local Hyundai dealers are making an impact on how keiki with cancer in Hawai’i are treated.

The nonprofit organization and dealers recently made a significant investment in the future of cancer care for children in Hawai‘i, presenting a collective gift of $160,000 to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, the only full-service women’s and children’s hospital in the state.

Their gift includes a $100,000 Impact Grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a nonprofit dedicated to ending pediatric cancer.

The grant will go to the only-one-of-its-kind-in-the-state Kapi‘olani Cellular Therapy Program to purchase specialized equipment for apheresis, an innovative procedure that separates blood components such as red or white blood cells, to treat certain cancers and other illnesses.

“The Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Grant will truly make a positive difference in the work that we do,” said Kapi‘olani Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Dr. Randal Wada in an announcement about the grant award. “The new equipment will help our apheresis unit work even more efficiently, decreasing procedure time and allowing us to provide more patients with lifesaving cancer care.”

Hyundai Hope on Wheels and Hawai‘i’s local Hyundai dealers earlier this year pledged an additional $60,000 for Kapi‘olani’s future Martha B. Smith Cancer & Infusion Center.

The future facility will more than quadruple the existing space for cancer care at Kapi‘olani.

In addition to enhancing patient care and comfort, It will also further efforts for clinical trials and new treatments for women and children while enhancing existing space for patient care and comfort.

“Hyundai Hope on Wheels is honored to support esteemed hospitals and institutions such as Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children to fund research that fosters innovation and medical advancements for pediatric cancer patients,” said Hyundai Hope on Wheels Executive Director John Guastaferro in the announcement. “We are grateful for the unwavering dedication and lifesaving efforts that will bring us closer to a world without childhood cancer.”

A ceremony was recently conducted at Kapi‘olani with national and local Hyundai representatives, Kapi‘olani physicians, team members and patients in honor of the award and what it means for the hospital’s future.

Among those in attendance were Seeley Borges and her family.

Shortly after Seeley was born on Kaua‘i, she had to be medevaced to Kapi‘olani, where she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive blood cancer.

She received immediate care from an expert team of doctors, nurses and specialists. The treatment was long and challenging.

But today, the 4-year-old is in remission.

Seeley was one of many who painted her palm and placed her handprint on a Hyundai vehicle as a symbol of the fight against childhood cancer.

“It’s so great to be here today and reconnect with those who helped save Seeley,” said her mom Hayley in the announcement. “We’re deeply thankful for Kapi‘olani and Hyundai for all that they do for kids battling cancer.”

Hyundai Hope on Wheels — since 1998 — has given $277 million for pediatric cancer research and programs, including more than $1.2 million to Kapi‘olani.