When a child in South Carolina is diagnosed with cancer, access to treatment isn’t always close to home. For families in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding area, specialized pediatric care often means traveling hours away to Charleston or Florence. That distance adds more than mileage, it brings financial stress, time away from work, separation from loved ones, and the overwhelming challenge of managing life during a child’s treatment.
The Strongman Luca James Foundation was created because we know firsthand how heavy that burden can be. From Luca’s diagnosis at age two to his months-long inpatient stays, our family experienced the strain of traveling back and forth and juggling everyday life in between. Along the way, we were lifted up by friends, neighbors, and even strangers who stepped in with meals, gas cards, and encouragement. That experience shaped our mission: to make sure other families in the Grand Strand have the support they need when treatment takes them far from home.
Today, our work focuses on financial assistance grants that families can use for what matters most, whether that’s groceries, bills, or the costs of traveling to care. And we’re expanding our vision beyond dollars. In partnership with Coastal Carolina Behavioral Health and other local organizations, we’re developing support groups and building connections that ease the emotional toll of treatment. Because the reality is this: pediatric cancer doesn’t just impact a child’s health, it reshapes an entire family’s life.
By filling these gaps, we hope to ensure that no parent has to choose between making a mortgage payment and making another trip to the hospital. And with the continued generosity of donors, volunteers, and partners, we can bring strength, relief, and hope to families right here in our community.