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Help give kids a lifetime with St. Baldrick’s
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 23, 2020) – In the spirit of giving, help give kids a lifetime. In the U.S., 1 in 5 kids diagnosed with cancer will not survive. The 5-year survival rate for children with cancers in the U.S. is now 84%. But many kids die after that milestone, often still in childhood. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is dedicated to giving kids a lifetime by funding the most promising research to find cures and give survivors longer and healthier lives. On Tuesday, Dec. 1 St. Baldrick’s is rallying its supporters to raise funds for childhood cancer research as part of #GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement encouraging people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
“2020 has been a year like no other for many people, especially for kids diagnosed with cancer and their families. Patients who are undergoing cancer treatments have always been on high alert to highly contagious illnesses, but to add a pandemic has been even more trying for kids with cancer,” said Kathleen Ruddy, CEO of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “By funding all stages of research, from the inception of an idea through clinical trials that bring new treatments to FDA approvals, St. Baldrick’s continues to stay laser focused on funding the best research, but we need the continued support of generous donors since the pandemic has made volunteer fundraising events impossible. We’re asking that you consider a donation this Giving Tuesday so together we can give kids not just 5 years, but a lifetime.”
Many families affected by childhood cancer have found ways to help support lifesaving research through the St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund program and will utilize Giving Tuesday to continue their efforts by asking family, friends and their community to donate to their Hero Fund. For many, a Hero Fund offers families a way to raise money in their child’s honor and provides an efficient alternative to starting their own independent foundation. By making use of the fundraising and grants administration resources St. Baldrick’s has built over the past 20 years, Hero Funds are able to focus their efforts on fundraising, rather than starting from scratch.
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Surviving 5 years after a cancer diagnosis is not enough, especially for a kid.
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He only needs to live 5 years after his diagnosis to be called a cancer survivor.
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He only needs to live 5 years after his diagnosis to be called a cancer survivor.
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She only needs to live 5 years after her diagnosis to be called a cancer survivor.
This #GivingTuesday, support kids with cancer and donate to @StBaldricksFoundation to give #GiveKidsALifetime Tweet
While Hero Funds come in all shapes and sizes, the families behind them are united by their passion to conquer childhood cancers. Last year alone, St. Baldrick’s Hero Funds raised more than $56,000 through Facebook Fundraisers on Giving Tuesday and continued to fundraise throughout December.
St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund, RowOn 4 a Cure, was created to honor Rowan who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL), at 3 years old. Rowan’s treatment included chemotherapy, total body radiation, and a successful cord blood transplant. She was declared cancer free May 2019, only to relapse one month later. After two failed clinical trials, Rowan passed away in September 2019. Rowan’s happy, spunky, funny, smart, and smiley spirit continues to live on through her family and her Hero Fund.
Since Rowan’s passing, RowOn 4 a Cure has raised more than $71,000. The fund is generously supporting Dr. Benjamin Huang’s St. Baldrick’s Scholar Grant to continue his research to improve cures rates for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the second most common blood cancer in children.
There are over 80 St. Baldrick’s Hero Funds which all are focused on funding the best childhood cancer research so that when another family hears their child has cancer, there will be better treatment options available.
St. Baldrick’s National Partner, Schick Xtreme, and St. Baldrick’s Corporate Partner, Wireless Vision, are also getting involved by sharing the vital need and life-changing opportunity to fund childhood cancer research with their employees and customers through their social media channels.
This #GivingTuesday, it’s easy to get involved:
About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Every 2 minutes a child somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer. In the U.S., 1 in 5 will not survive. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants, is on a mission to give kids a lifetime by supporting the most promising research to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. When you give to St. Baldrick’s, you don’t just give to one institution – you support virtually every institution with the expertise to treat kids with cancer across the U.S. St. Baldrick’s ensures that children fighting cancer now -- and those diagnosed in the future -- will have access to the most cutting-edge treatment, by supporting every stage of research, from new ideas in the lab to the development of new therapies, to life-saving clinical trials. Join us at StBaldricks.org and help #GiveKidsaLifetime.
Media Contact:
Michele Franco
626-792-8247, ext. 264
[email protected]
