In 1995 at Children's Medical Center, Philippines (now Dr. Fe del Mundo Medical Center Foundation, Philippines), a group of leukemia survivors, their parents, friends and doctors were saddened that some hospital patients had succumbed to leukemia. They were deeply disturbed that these patients who passed away were all indigent.

To get lives together and to provide the opportunity for those with more in life and of life to share with those with less --- this was the challenge and the vision that this group shared. And thus was born the Leukemic Indigents Fund Endowment (L.I.F.E.), Inc.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF L.I.F.E.?

Guided by its vision, L.I.F.E. exists to serve two purposes.

The first is to assist leukemic children from indigent families achieve remission and cure. This is the primary objective of the Foundation. We call this the "Adopt a Leukemic Child Program" where each indigent leukemic child is clinically adopted by at least one benefactor who will shoulder the full cost of treatment (currently roughly P380,000) over a 3-year period. This amount will cover chemotherapy, laboratory and antibiotics.

As in any illness, the healing of leukemia is best promoted in an atmosphere of closeness, empathy, camaraderie and mutual understanding among patients, their parents, doctors, and a formally structured support group. L.I.F.E. therefore also aims to provide optimum care to address its patients' psychosocial and spiritual needs, largely through its voluntary support group. A pool of cured patients, parents, relatives, friends, doctors, religious, artists, and some individuals offer their time and talent, pro bono, to conduct healing and sharing sessions, play, art, dance and occupational therapy.