CHRISTINA S. WALSH
BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 401, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903-0401
732.853.7910
Web: Christinaswalshbcf.org - E-mail: Christinabcf@comcast.net
EIN/Tax ID # 27-0104445®
“The mission of the Foundation will be to provide financial assistance and comfort to breast cancer patients and their
families. It is our hope that some of the hardships they are experiencing will be lessened.”
The Christina S. Walsh Breast Cancer Foundation is a not for profit, tax exempt 501 (c) (3) organization

The Christina S. Walsh Breast Cancer Foundation, established in October 2004, is a not-for-profit, tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in Christina’s memory for the purpose of carrying out her wishes of providing financial assistance to breast cancer patients who are experiencing financial setbacks.

Christina Walsh was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2001. The cancer was aggressive, and although it never went into remission, she continued working through surgeries and treatments as a Special Education Teacher and Child Study Team Case Manager, while taking care of her home, her four-month-old daughter and her husband, adopting a greyhound and starting her own Chocolate and Cookie business. In June 2004, while vacationing in Florida with her family, Christina’s health took a severe downturn. In order to bring her home to her doctor and treatment center in NJ, a medical air-transport was arranged. The cost was $11,000, non-refundable by medical insurance. Through the generosity of family, friends, and total strangers the $11,000 bill for the flight was completely covered within weeks resulting in a $400 surplus. Christina was overwhelmed by this outpouring of generosity. During the course of her two and one-half-year battle, Christina recognized the effect her disease had on her family and friends, both emotionally and financially and, as a result she became determined to find a means of providing relief to other breast cancer patients and their families. She and her husband discussed ways in which to utilize the remaining $400 in order to achieve this aspiration.
On August 25, 2004, Christina Walsh, 32-year-old wife and mother, lost her battle with breast cancer. Sadly, Christina never saw her vision come to fruition.
Christina is the face, the spirit, and the driving force behind the Foundation. October 2025 marks the beginning of the Foundation’s 22nd year of providing financial relief to breast cancer patients throughout the United States. By alleviating some of the immediate financial burdens that are associated with a breast cancer diagnosis, it is our desire that patients will be empowered with hope and encouragement as they journey through their treatment and recovery process.

Our Mission

DMD is a fatal, genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. It primarily affects boys, most of whom are wheelchair-bound by age 12. Duchenne affects 300,000 boys worldwide; 20,000 children in the United States alone. These children are robbed of their childhood as they can't run and play. The simplest of movements is painful. Many don't survive past their mid-twenties.

As you can probably imagine it takes millions of dollars to find a cure. With your help, JAR of Hope supports a team of research scientists and doctors dedicated to eliminating Duchenne. We also provide support for these boys and their families.

For families like ours, every day and every dollar counts. With organized fundraising events and support from you, we can continue our mission and turn the dream of finding a cure into reality.

Our Story

"Go home, love your son, there is nothing we can do for him."

It was September 13, 2013, when Jim and Karen Raffone received the news that no parent should ever get– they were told that their child was sick. On that day, their now 14-year-old son, Jamesy, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): a rare mutation of the dystrophin gene that results in severe muscle degeneration.

The Raffone’s then sought a number of professional opinions, only to be given the same heartbreaking prognosis from each doctor: “go home and love your son – there is nothing we can do.” Unsatisfied with accepting their child’s death sentence, Jim and Karen set out to reverse the seemingly insurmountable odds against them—this is when JAR of Hope was born.

Spearheaded by Jim Raffone, JAR of Hope is an organization that gives Jamesy and thousands of boys just like him the chance to beat a disease that currently has no cure. Through various funding and awareness campaigns, JAR of Hope remains steadfast in its mission to knockout a disease that has, until now, remained undefeated. 

 GET IN TOUCH

732-414-6670

james@jarofhope.org

631 Lake Avenue
Asbury Park NJ 07712

JAR of Hope is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization.
Federal EIN 46-4134019