Late last year, CURE Childhood Cancer sat down with Dr. William Woods, Chair of Hematology/Oncology at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. We are pleased to present the first installment in a series of videos of our conversation with Dr. Woods, in which he discusses how CURE funding has helped him over the years.
Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for the rest of the videos.
The 6th Annual Play for Patrick occurred May 17-20th at Druid Hills Golf Club. Children, women, and men played tennis and participated in a swim carnival to raise money for Press On to CURE Childhood Cancer, a named fund of CURE. Friday evening, families enjoyed a barbeque with silent auction items to bid on, using the new technology-Bidsmart where community friends and supporters received text messages that updated them on how their bid was performing.
Stephen Chance addressed the crowd, announcing the continued research support Press On has committed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta-including a lead-lined room for radiation treatments specific to neuroblastoma-to be named in Patrick’s honor.
While final numbers are not yet in, we estimate that approximately $100,000 was raised through this great event. We are grateful to Druid Hills Golf Club and their entire staff for their assistance with this weekend fundraising celebration.
Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters.
Join us for CAN Dance for Cancer, a community dance event benefiting CURE Childhood Cancer.
The 4th annual community dance event unites the Atlanta dance community to raise funds for the Nancy Falco Fund that provides support to a family that is currently battling cancer. This year 80% of the profits from CAN Dance for Cancer will go to a family, while the remaining 20% will be donated to CURE.
The event takes place on June 2nd in celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day and will include live music, dance lessons, performances, food and a dance party.
CAN Dance for Cancer
June 2, 2012
At the Defoor Centre
1710 Defoor Avenue, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Tickets cost $20 in advance, $30 day-of, and $10 for children ages 2-15. Your ticket includes a buffet-style dinner, live music, “Dips, Tricks, & Spins” dance lesson, performances by top Atlanta dancers, and a dance party with a local DJ. Please dress in cocktail attire and join us from 5:00pm – 10:00 pm for this fun night! Click here for tickets.
Yesterday we received great news from the American Childhood Cancer Organization that we couldn’t wait to share with you. Please read, enjoy and share the letter below!
Dear Childhood Cancer Advocate:
Thurs. May, 24, 2012. Today, the United States Senate passed the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act by a vote of 96-1 (Senator Bernard Sanders, I-VT).
This bipartisan legislation includes important provisions designed to address drug shortages by requiring manufacturers to report the permanent discontinuance, or an interruption, of the manufacturing of drugs that are life-supporting, life-sustaining or intended for use in the prevention of a debilitating disease or condition. Through early notification, FDA can work with industry to help avert or mitigate shortages of drugs to treat cancer and other diseases.
The House of Representatives is expected to consider its version of the legislation next week. The two versions are similar, and it is anticipated that resolving the differences between the two bills will be handled expeditiously.
While we still have more work to do, the vote in the Senate today is an important step in the efforts to help bring safe and effective anti-cancer therapeutics from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside.
Ruth I Hoffman MPH
Executive Director
The third annual Tennis for CURE, honoring Madie Dreesman, was a great success! Picture-perfect weather set the stage for this year’s event, held on May 19-20 at Horseshoe Bend Country Club in Roswell. The weekend event included an adult mixer on Saturday night, a beginner’s junior round robin, and the favorite adult/junior tournament on Sunday afternoon. A total of 120 players participated, and preliminary results show $5000 being raised for CURE Childhood Cancer, in honor of Madie! 
We would like to thank the following sponsors and silent auction donors: Horseshoe Bend Country Club, The Pediatric Place – David Bergman, M.D., Atlanta Dog Trainer – Malcolm Aga, PGA Tour Superstore, So-Mine, The O’Brien family, Fresh Market, Fuller-Cheek Designs, Tennis Kids and Teens, Inc., Einstein Bros Bagels, Oculist Optique – Dr. Christy Jaillet, Mojito Café, Drs. Smith, Meadows, and Smith, James B. Gray, DMD, PC – Orthodontics, Pet Med Plus – Donita McElroy, DVM, MS, Simply Good, Holcomb Bridge Middle School, Total Boxing, Jeff Hughes, Executive Trainer, Double M Design, Premier Marketing & Promotions, LLC, Fulton County Credit Union, US Army, GraceMary Jewelry, The Kapella Family, Pizza Hut, Menchies, All Star Enterprises, LLC, Get Fit with Joseph, Thomas Lee Dodson, DMD, Moe’s, and the Dreesman family.
When I was thirteen, I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Respiratory Epithelial Carcinoma. This type is only found in 50- to 60-year-old men who have worked in chemical factories all their lives. So, needless to say, my doctors were baffled. Thankfully, this is a very slow-growing form of the disease and we found that it had not spread. After several surgeries and a stint in the hospital, there was no trace of cancerous cells. In 2009, I reached my ten-year mark of being cancer free, which is a wonderful feeling.
Being diagnosed with cancer is scary for any child, but I was extremely blessed that my treatment didn’t require chemo or radiation. Knowing how fortunate I was and seeing those kids who had a much tougher fight ahead has been my motivation to devote my time to cancer-related causes. Through college I was very involved with the American Cancer Society and started a Relay for Life event on our campus.
I moved to Atlanta after I graduated and wanted to find a group to volunteer with. I was so excited to hear that there was an organization that devoted their time specifically to children suffering from this disease. I distinctly remember those individuals who brought some enjoyment to my hospital stays and distracted me from the scary moments I was facing. I’m thankful to be able to help CURE Childhood Cancer bring a little bit of happiness to these kids who need it the most.
Thank you for participating in the 18th Lauren’s Run and CURE Childhood Cancer Annual Picnic. Overall, our goal was to raise $125,000. The numbers are in and we’re excited to announce that the 2012 Lauren’s Run raised more than $161,000! That’s 38% more than in 2011!
What a spectacular day it was, with nearly 1500 runners, walkers and volunteers gathering to join forces to wage war against cancer in children. We loved seeing so many teams sporting special team t-shirts and enjoying the beautiful day together while furthering our important cause. Those teams led the way in pushing the event to new heights, both in terms of spirit and fundraising.
We would also like to say thank you to the many volunteers who worked hard to make the day such a success. We heard many families leaving the picnic saying “This was definitely the best Lauren’s Run and picnic ever!” Because of each of you, our special event gets better every year!
Thank you to Lynn Crow for capturing the day with your photography. Click here to check out all of the photos.
CURE Childhood Cancer believes that a cure for children battling cancer can be reached in our lifetime. Because of our mission to fund targeted research and support our patients and their families, we have established an aggressive goal to raise $525,000 by June 30 in our 2011-2012 Annual Campaign, Time is of the Essence.
To date, we have raised $450,000 and are asking you to help us fill the gap. You can make a difference today in the life of a child hospitalized for chemotherapy or other treatment, undergoing a bone marrow transplant or otherwise waging a battle for his or her life.
Interested in how your donation can be used?
Gifts of any amount are appreciated and move us closer to our goal. If you are interested in donating you can click here.
Thank you for your support!
Ellie Collins, a fourteen-year-old girl, recently had to experience the loss of a dear friend to childhood cancer. His name was Patrick Chance and he was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma at the age of three. On his birthday, six years later, Patrick lost his battle with cancer.
Ellie could have felt defeated. She could have been angry that her friend had been taken from this world by such a terrible disease. Instead, Ellie found motivation and hope in the future of medicine and the eventual cure of childhood cancer.
Inspired, Ellie wrote an essay for her school contest entitled “Making Hope” that discussed CURE Childhood Cancer, our mission and our vision. Her essay was chosen as a finalist and she was asked to give a speech in front of 250 people.
We are truly blown away by Ellie’s amazing essay and her words of confidence in the work that CURE is doing.
Ellie has allowed us to share her essay to the CURE community. We hope that you enjoy it as much as we did. Thank you Ellie!
Making Hope
On January 14, I attended a dear friend of mine’s funeral. Patrick Roberts Chance died on his birthday. He had just turned nine years old. At age three, Patrick was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. Six years later, the cancer had spread and he could no longer fight. Out of the thousands of children, according to the National Cancer Institute, that die each year from pediatric cancer, Patrick is just one. CURE Childhood Cancer is an Atlanta based organization dedicated to finding the cure for pediatric cancer. The money they collect each year funds targeted research and supports patients and their families on their grueling fight with cancer. CURE has made a difference in the thousands of kid’s lives affected by pediatric cancer each year. Their research and support give hope to the families who have little hope left.
In 1975, Dr.Abdel Ragab, Emory University’s first pediatric oncologist or cancer doctor, saw the need for money to support funding for research. Dr.Ragab also saw the desperate need for support with the families spending countless days and nights in the cancer ward at the hospital. Volunteers started funding immediately and in 1989, they had raised enough money to move the research lab from Grady Hospital to Emory Campus, where most of the patients were being treated. When CURE was established there was a survival rate of ten percent and amazingly the survival rate is now eighty percent.
Being a very unique organization, CURE has a program that trains future pediatric oncologists. According to the official CURE website, “While many organizations craft their treatments, programs, and even faculties based on what today’s medicine has to offer, we’re doing something a bit different. We’re looking to the future. To the medicine of tomorrow and all it has to offer kids with childhood cancer.” CURE’s research program is now one of the largest pediatric oncology programs in the country. With the money they raise, they support many research facilities. These include the AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Specifically, they focus on Leukemia, Bone marrow transplant, Glioma, Osteosarcoma, AML, Neuroblastoma, Medulloblastoma, and Survivorship. Presently, they are working on a new drug for AML with promising results.
One very special part of CURE is their patient and family support program. The entire program is made entirely of volunteers. There are three main programs: Early Outreach, Critical Needs Care, and Caring for the Caregiver. Early Outreach provides families whose kids have been diagnosed support and resources for their journey with cancer. Critical Needs Care tends to the most critical and urgent needs of patients and their families with giving meals, financial aid, and support for death. Caring for the Caregiver takes care of all the nurses and doctors working with the patients by bringing food and honoring them on special days. Programs sponsored by CURE try to make every family battling cancer as comfortable as possible, and bring some joy into their life.
Everyday you hear about kids battling cancer, but CURE has taken the next step and has set up funds honoring some heroes among us. Some examples of these funds are: The Hayley Hunter Research Fund, The Sam Robb Fund, and Press On to CURE Childhood Cancer honoring Patrick Chance and Brennan Simkins. Events are held annually to raise money and awareness for all their funds, also they raise money to support the organization itself. All of CURE’s exceptional work and volunteers have won it the Charity Navigator’s Highest Rating and other outstanding awards.
Organizations like CURE are changing lives by bringing hope to children and their loved ones with their life changing research and heartfelt support program. To the thousands affected by cancer each year, CURE is like a super hero bringing the little hope they have into their lives. Instead of flying men with capes, their heroes are dressed in scrubs and do something very similar to the flying superheroes. They save lives.
Vote for Tom Glavine, former Atlanta Braves pitcher and 1995 World Series MVP, and your child could win a one-on-one training experience with Tom!
As a part of Club Diamond Nation, the first virtual baseball and softball academy, several Major League Baseball players, Olympic softball players and coaches are competing to win $15,000 for their selected charities.
By voting for Tom Glavine and joining his team, you are helping him in his race to support CURE Childhood Cancer. In addition, you are simultaneously entering for a chance to win a training session with the star.
Starting today through July 15, 2012, fans can visit Club Diamond Nation’s website and vote for the site’s stars. The star that receives the most fan support will win $15,000 for his or her selected charity, while the other four charities will each receive a $2,500 donation.
Other stars involved are Barry Larkin, Jennie Flinch, Kevin Long and Jack Cust Jr.
For more information on Club Diamond Nation you can watch a trailer by clicking here.
To join Tom’s team click here.
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