Families in Our Lives

When cancer touches the lives of many Montana families, the costs associated with coping with and treating the disease go well beyond what medical insurance covers, if a family has insurance at all. Many Montana families have to travel out of state to treatment centers like Seattle and Salt Lake, and hotel, food, phone and other bills quickly mount up. This is where the Payden Memorial Foundation can and does help. With the health and well-being of a child the most important thing on anyone's mind, helping a family that needs support in meeting expenses can take at least one aspect of the challenge out of the equation.

Families are usually referred to us by social workers and other healthcare practitioners acquainted with the work of the Foundation.

For more about the ways we help families, or to make a donation to the Foundation or to a specific child, please see our Donation page.

Thanks to 129 riders and their donors, our generous sponsors, individual and business donations, and the work of our tireless volunteers, Blazing Saddles IX on July 17, 2010, raised over $38,000 for kids and families like the ones described below.

The Foundation's work continues throughout the year, long after we've finished the annual Blazing Saddles ride, and we welcome your interest and support.

Jacob is 9 years old and love playing legos and video games. He is diagnosed with Lymphoma III and is currently in treatment. Jacob, his older brother Ryan, and his parents live in Big Fork, MT.

Jak is 7 years old, in 1st grade, and loves everything Army! He likes the color blue, Hershey's bars, and Doritos. He also enjoys playing with Lego's, riding a four wheeler, and playing the PlayStation. He is diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. He and his older siblings, Bo and Kira, live in Butte, MT (with their parents, of course):)

Aspen is 9 years old and is the comedian of the family! She also likes to collect giraffes, volunteer at the local Humane Society, and cuddling cats! She is diagnosed with ALL Leukemia.  She has an older sister, Saranna, and a twin sister Autum. She and her family live in Belgrade, MT. 

Jackson is 2 years old and loves music and dancing. Even with his diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Down Syndrome, he is a ball of fire and full of energy! He loves riding toys, anything that makes noise, and watching Mickey Mouse. He and his family reside in Billings, MT. 

Cash is 2 years old and loves camping, fishing, boating, hiking, and watching movies! He is diagnosed with PNET brain tumor. Cash, his older brother Colten, and their parents live in Missoula, MT.

Cashius is 7 months old. His family loves to go on walks and lay in bed together and read. He is diagnosed with ATRT brain cancer. They reside in Great Falls, MT.

"We want to thank you for reaching out to us at such an overwhelming time. As time goes by and the costs sometimes seem insurmountable, there you were again! . . . . Even more touching is that you care about my family." – a mother of one of the children in the Payden Memorial Foundation community

"Your support is so blessed to us; it's really a bright spot in our sometimes challenging life now."– parents of one of the children helped by the Foundation.

Thanks to the families and children for sharing their photos and stories.

These are the faces and voices of families served by the Foundation.
With your generosity, The Payden Memorial Foundation can continue to help families and individuals with kids who have cancer. If you know a specific child for whom you'd like to make a donation, please see our Donation page.

For more information, please give us a call 406.222.6700 or Email us.

To make a general donation to the Payden Memorial Foundation, please click the button below.