AJU FOUNDATION

It’s not the strength of the body, but the strength of the spirit

-JR Tolkien

The AJU Foundation is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to putting smiles on the faces of those who are battling cancer. The goal is to make someones days a little brighter by delivering Smile Packages. Each package is custom made, filled with toys or services, appearance by sports heros or other memorabilia requested by the patient. The Foundation was created by Alec Unsicker, who was inspired by the people who would give him gifts and make him smile during his cancer treatments and only wished to “pay it forward.”

 

Alec Unsicker loved reading, Broadway musicals, attending Comic Con, watching his favorite shows, collecting Funko Pops and playing games with his family. His favorite books included the series “Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter.”  In 2008, Alec began his fight with Cancer. At just 10 years old, he was found to have a medulloblastoma, or brain tumor. The tumor was removed and followed by Chemo and radiation treatments for a year and a half. As a result of the treatments he was forced to drop out and miss his 5th and 6th grade education years. It was a very difficult time for him, filled with rigorous and painful treatments in a fight for his life. After completion, an MRI revealed his tumor was gone. For several years his life went back to “normal,” with no recurrence of the tumor. In 2014, his yearly MRI showed another tumor growing at the base of his spine. At 16 years old, Alec was given a year and a half of chemo and radiation, for the second time in his life.  This time, upon completion of treatment, the tumors did not reduce but had began to move up his spine. The diagnosis was that they would continue to grow till they overcome vital parts of his body. Alec was given a limited amount of time left to live. Alec would comfort others by quoting Albus Dumbledoore, “Death is but the next great adventure.”

 

When doctors told Alec and his family that there was nothing more they could do, the Unsicker family decided to take Alec’s dream vacation to New Zealand. Alec returned home wanting something to motivate him to get up in the morning again. Alec was not content to lie around waiting to leave this world. Alec created the AJU Foundation and began his last journey to make others days a little brighter. He filled his days with service until he literally could not take another step. Alec passed away on September 30, 2018. At the time of his passing he had delivered more than 130 Smiles Packages to other cancer patients. Alec’s family has decided to continue and grow the AJU Foundation in his honor.

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us

-Gandalf

 

Each year Maeband chooses a non-profit for our Charitable Campaign. At that time, we donate to the charity of choice $1 for every Maeband pregnancy belly band sold that year. AJU Foundation has inspired us to choose them as the recipient for our 2023 Charitable Campaign. For every Maeband sold in 2023, we donated $1 to AJU to further assist in their work with cancer patients. We invite you to join us in supporting them by sharing their information, following and supporting them on social media, attending their events and/or becoming a volunteer or sponsor.

If you want to fill out a “smile application” or donate to the cause, you can contact them through their Facebook Page.