When Ronald Festa's young son was diagnosed with cancer, it changed Festa's life in more ways than one. "My career had taught me a lot- showed me how to support other people and about facing the challenges in life, but my son's illness really put everything into perspective," said Festa, a psychologist.

Justin is now a healthy 11-year old, but when he was just under 2, he was diagnosed with Wilms disease- cancer of the kidney.

"You're sitting across from an oncologist who's telling you your child may die. It's a nightmare you expect to wake up from but don't-even when he's finally diagnosed as cured," Festa added.

The boy underwent six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments offered at Children's Hospital at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. It was during that time that Festa and his wife, Felicia, first became aware of the Valerie Fund. Today, Festa heads the fund's board of trustees.

The Valerie Fund , a nonprofit organization established more than 20 years ago by Ed and Sue Goldstein, of Warren, in memory of their daughter, Valerie, gives financial support to five New Jersey hospital based centers for the treatment of children with cancer and blood disorders. They are: Children's Hospital at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; Cooper Hospital in Camden, Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch; Overlook Hospital, Summit; and St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston.

In addition to advanced medical treatment, these centers provide psychological counseling, at-home tutor referrals, and clerical assistance to patients and their families.

When Justin was cured of his cancer, Festa began to think about giving something back in return for his son's health.

When Felicia and I found out he would be okay, there was such a sense of relief. You can't imagine. I felt I had to do something to give back- to help somebody else because so many people had helped us," Festa said.

The opportunity came when he was asked to join the Valerie Fund's board of trustees. That was eight years ago. Now he is in his second term as chairman of the board.

"My role as chairman is to oversee various boards, including the executive committee, which oversees the operations of the fund," he said. "We receive the majority of our funds by holding special events like the walk relay, the golf tournament and our Thanksgiving ball, and have been discussing increasing non-event fundraising through corporate sponsorship and trying to come up with more efficient ways to raise money over the next five years."

In the last two years, the Valerie Fund has raised more than $2 million.

During the time Justin was receiving treatments, the Festas took turns staying with their son. His mother stayed with him at the hospital during the day and his father took over at night. "We wanted to be with him around the clock. Valerie Fund centers provide a more relaxed environment than traditional hospital settings. And not only do they take care of a child's physical needs, they look after theirs and their parents' emotional needs. They're like family," the Bloomfield resident said.

"The organization also sponsors Camp Happy Times, a free overnight summer camp for children and teenagers with cancer and support and bereavement groups for families who lose children to the disease," Festa said.

Some 3,000 children are helped annually through the Valerie Fund centers, according to Festa.

"The Goldsteins learned what was needed the hard way, by going through it themselves," Festa added. "Prior to them establishing the fund, children had to travel into Manhattan and Philadelphia for treatments sometimes four or five times a month. It can be an incredible burden, financially and emotionally.

Now that Justin is cured, what does he plan for the future?" "Right now, his life's ambition is to become a hockey goalie," Festa said. "I'm just happy he's around to plan anything," Festa said.

The couple also have two other sons, Jeffrey, 9, and Adam, 5.

"Helping people, especially children, have a better chance at life is so important. It's time we all did something to effect change," Festa said.

The Valerie Fund is located at 2101 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, NJ 07040

Call (973) 761-0422