THE LATEST 'HEAD'LINES

$3 Million Raised for Childhood Cancer Research

The medical staff and patients at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Rush Medical Center and John H. Stroger Medical Center have given us the sign that it’s time to announce that St. Baldrick’s volunteers and supporters have raised $3 million for childhood cancer research in 2012 alone!

UIC, Rush and Stroger are long-time supporters of St. Baldrick’s, holding a signature head-shaving event at the UIC Medical Center for the past seven years. This year the University of Illinois Medical Center St. Baldrick’s event will be held on February 23 and doctors, researchers, and medical staff from all three institutions will come together to shave their heads in solidarity with the patients they serve, all to raise money to fund lifesaving research to find a cure for childhood cancers.

While these doctors and caregivers have dedicated their careers to helping kids with cancer, many have gone the extra mile! Dr. Mary Lou Schmidt, St. Baldrick’s grant recipient, pictured in the lower left corner, is also a former St. Bladrick’s shavee, as is Dr. Paul Kent, pictured in the upper right corner. Dr. Kent, along with his son Isaiah, are actually members of the exclusive “Knights of the Bald Table”, having shaved their heads for seven years. Since it takes about 6-8 weeks for hair to grow in, this means they have spent a total of a year bald in honor of kids with cancer!

UIC recently received a $200,000 St. Baldrick’s grant to support the joint clinical trials program of the three institutions. In 2008, St. Baldrick's funding enabled the John H. Stroger Hospital (formerly Cook County Hospital) to become a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), giving many more children access to clinical trials, their best hope for a cure.

“More patients are now able to receive second opinions, new experimental drugs and therapies,” said Schmidt. “The increase in enrollment within culturally-diverse Chicago is also expanding childhood cancer research through COG’s worldwide network. Racial and ethnic groups from various socioeconomic backgrounds are largely underrepresented in clinical trials, and the information gathered from participants at UIC, Rush and Stroger will further advance pediatric cancer research. Thank you to the donors and volunteers of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.”