Keaton Raphael Memorial unveils new Roseville headquarters

For more than a decade, Keaton Raphael Memorial has operated out of a small 350-square-foot office.The Roseville-based nonprofit organization outgrew its britches and recently relocated to a new location on Douglas Boulevard. About 60 community supporters, including Roseville Councilman Tim Herman, celebrated the change with a ribbon cutting and open house Tuesday.The new 1,000-square-foot space better accommodates the organization's four staff members, including the new "family navigator," said founder and CEO Robyn Raphael.This navigator works with hospital case workers to link families dealing with childhood cancer to valuable resources. This could be providing them with gas cards to buy fuel, monetary donations to cover mortgage payments or connecting parents of kids with cancer to one another."She's kind of like their lifeline," Raphael said.The five grantors of the navigator position were recognized during the open house. They include Kaiser Permanente, First 5 Placer, REACH Fund and Citizens Benefit Fund, Placer Community Foundation and Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Alliance Society.Keaton Raphael Memorial was created in honor of Raphael's son who died of cancer in 1998.At age 5, he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system. Keaton underwent aggressive treatment, which included six cycles of chemotherapy, removal of the tumor from his abdomen, radiation and a double bone marrow transplant.Robyn and Kyle Raphael formed the organization to help childhood cancer families throughout northern California. Currently, one in every 330 children in the United States develops cancer before the age of 19.~ Sena Christian----------8th annual CrabtoberfestWhen: 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22Where: Roseville Sports Center, at Mahany Regional Park, 1545 Pleasant Grove Blvd. in RosevilleCost: $40Info: Join Keaton Raphael Memorial and Wells Fargo Dealer Services and enjoy food, music, dancing and more while supporting the fight against childhood cancer. For more information, visit. www.childcancer.org.