Childhood Cancer Research Grant Given in Honor of Wilton Child

WILTON, N.Y. (August 24, 2015) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-powered and donor-centered charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, is proud to announce that a Hero Fund created in honor of Clarkie Carroll, from Wilton, N.Y., will support lifesaving childhood cancer research.

The Team Clarkie Fund was started by Dave and Shannan Carroll in honor of their son, Clarkie, who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that affects 250 people each year. After struggling with leg pain throughout his spring lacrosse season, an MRI revealed a mass in his upper right femur. Clarkie underwent 34 weeks of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the top half of his femur and replace it with a titanium prosthesis and donor bone.

Throughout treatment Clarkie amazed everybody with his strength, positivity, sense of humor and resilience. Clarkie completed treatment in May 2014 and now shows no evidence of disease.

This past June, nearly 350 people gathered at McGregor Links Country Club in support of Clarkie and participated in “The Clarkie Cup,” raising nearly $40,000 as a community. With the funds raised by Team Clarkie, nearly $288,000 to date, St. Baldrick’s is able to support a research grant focused on Ewing sarcoma.

This year, the “Team Clarkie St. Baldrick’s Research Grant” was awarded to Dr. Eric Sweet-Cordero, Ph.D., at Stanford University. The $100,000 grant will support Dr. Sweet-Cordero’s research project that aims to understand how a DNA mutation causes Ewing sarcoma. He hopes that understanding this mutation will lead to better therapies for children with this cancer.

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-powered charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $176 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. For more information about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

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