The Lopez family, known as “the first family of taekwondo,” announced an official partnership with Heroes for Children, a Texas-based nonprofit organization that provides financial and social support to families affected by childhood cancer.

The Lopez siblings, Steven, Mark and Diana, are the first sibling trio to compete in the Olympics since 1904 and have made winning national and Olympic taekwondo titles a family tradition. Most recently, they took home three medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Their goal in partnering with HFC is to create a new family tradition supporting an organization that supports families in need.

“Childhood cancer impacts nearly 500 children in Texas each year, many of them Hispanic, ” said Jean Lopez, eldest sibling and coach of the Lopez Olympic team. “We decided to support Heroes for Children with the hope that our family can bring more visibility to this important cause and encourage more support for the families HFC supports —both in the Hispanic community and throughout Texas.”

Of the affected families assisted by HFC, 52 percent are of Hispanic descent. With costly medical bills and often work sacrifices made by one or both parents to be with the child battling cancer, families can have extreme difficulty maintaining normal expenses such as utility bills, mortgage or rent payments and transportation costs. With financial assistance and various social programs, HFC has allowed more than 2,000 families to focus on the most important part of treatment, the child.

“The average cost of medical care for a child with cancer can range from $600,000 to more than $1 million, ” said Jenny Scott,

For more information regarding Heroes for Children and the new partnership with the Lopez Family, or to donate $5 through the High Five Campaign, visit www.heroesforchildren.org or on Facebook under “Causes” and on Twitter (@Heroes4Children).

About Heroes for Children

Heroes for Children provides financial and social assistance to families within the state of Texas who have children battling cancer. Cancer treatment can include chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and numerous clinic visits, which can last between six months to three years. According to information provided by the financial counselor of oncology at Cook Children ’s of Fort Worth, a child’s care can range from $600,000 to over $1 million, often exceeding their lifetime maximum benefits. Families often face mounting bills at home, and Heroes for Children provides direct financial assistance to families with children battling cancer. The average gift is $750 to assist towards such necessary expenses as mortgage/rent, utilities, car payments or to off-set the cost of funerals for children who have lost their battle with cancer. Heroes for Children spends more than $30,000 each month on direct financial assistance. This assistance allows families to focus on the child ’s health. To date, Heroes for Children has never denied a family’s request for help.

For more information, visit the newly redesigned Heroes for Children Web site at www.heroesforchildren.org.

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