Hyundai Hope on Wheels donates $100,000 to UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

A brand-new, white Hyundai Palisade rolled up to UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center on Thursday, bringing hope on wheels and delivering a $100,000 check to help fight childhood cancer.

The event celebrated the extraordinary courage of young warriors battling cancer at the cancer center and honored the unwavering love and strength of their families who stand beside them every step of the way.

Since 1998, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has awarded 14 grants to UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, totaling $1,310,000 in funding.

"To me, this is the best thing we do other than selling cars. We want to make sure that someday, kids will be 100% cured. That's the goal," said Rajesh Gupta, senior group manager of regional sales for the Western Region at Hyundai Motor America. "Every single dollar helps Dr. Marcio and his team to do what they need to do to make medicine and conduct research for the kids."

This is the fourth consecutive year that Marcio Malogolowkin, chief of the Division of Pediatric Oncology-Hematology at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, has received a Hyundai Hope on Wheels grant.

"This will help our kids by improving their lives during therapy and advancing their long-term outcomes, but it will also help us find new modalities, therapies and ways to care for our patients," Malogolowkin said.

The event began in the cancer center's auditorium and ended outdoors where attendees dipped their hands in paint and added their handprints to the SUV.

On hand to provide a "high five" and a thank you was 8-year-old cancer patient Alizah. She smiled broadly as she made an indelible memory of the day.

"UC Davis gave Alizah her childhood back and gave her her voice," said the girl's mother, Malia Martinez. "We didn't get the help we needed until we came here. Thank you."