Brain tumors in children can sound especially daunting – but some brain tumors can be malignant and not especially life-threatening. Therefore, getting an accurate diagnosis is key, and Dr. James Olson of Seattle Children’s Hospital is working on more accurately diagnosing and treating brain cancers in children.
In the St. Baldrick’s Foundation community, John Bender has been a catalyst for raising funds in support of lifesaving childhood cancer research and clinical trials.
In 1999, he was one of three reinsurance executives – along with Tim Kenny and Enda McDonnell – who made head shaving part of their mission to find better treatments and eventually a cure for kids’ cancers. Today, as a co-founder and Chairman Emeritus, John remains a major part of the organization and an inspiration to those who have taken up this vital cause.
That’s why, with the twentieth year of head shaving upon us, we asked John to share his thoughts on two decades of fighting childhood cancers.
So many wonderful things happen at St. Baldrick’s events that it was tough to whittle the list down to seven. But here they are! Read on for the seven stupendous things that will definitely happen at your St. Baldrick’s event.
1. You will make an impact
St. Baldrick’s volunteers are changing the world for kids with cancer. With $258 million going to research in 29 countries, we’re making a big impact on childhood cancer research — and it’s all thanks to you. Keep up the great work!
It might seem that Department of Defense technology that’s used to detect explosives might not have any use in diagnosing childhood cancers. But, if you ask St. Baldrick’s Foundation “Rockstar Researcher” Dr. Bruce Shiramizu, this technology has real potential to help patients, parents, caregivers, and the cancer community.
It’s why this Hawaii-based doctor, who has worked on the mainland at the University of California San Francisco and at the National Institutes of Health, is so passionate about his research work and what it might be able to do for children throughout the world. This veteran researcher has shaved his head multiple times for St. Baldrick’s – that’s one definition of a “Rockstar Researcher” – and his body of work speaks volumes.
Head-shaving events have been a core part of the St. Baldrick’s fundraising experience for nearly two decades. Today, St. Baldrick’s has funded more than $258 million in grants for childhood cancer research, with much of that money raised through head-shaving events. The research and clinical trials funded by these events have saved kids’ lives.
But we need more money to fund research to save lives. Cancer continues to rob kids of their childhoods and, in too many cases, their lives. We simply cannot accept that, worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes and that, in the U.S., one in five of those kids won’t survive.
Whether you’re new to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation or a seasoned fundraising pro, we know that our signature head-shaving events might not be for everyone. Did you know there’s another way to join us in the fight against childhood cancer, that doesn’t require you shave your head?
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Sport Clips Haircuts are excited to announce they’re renewing their very successful partnership dedicated to fighting childhood cancers for another three years. As part of this renewed partnership, Sport Clips has recommitted their efforts to conquer childhood cancers and will donate another $1 million to St. Baldrick’s.
The partnership will continue to focus on the goal of finding better treatments – and eventually a cure – for childhood cancers.
Today, Feb. 15, 2019, marks this year’s International Childhood Cancer Day.
While the St. Baldrick’s Foundation might be thought of as just an American organization, the fact is that the research we fund has global reach – so we thought that we’d share a few snapshots of just how global our organization really is, and how our funding and your support are making a true impact for kids with cancer throughout the world.
Looking for a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day AND make a difference? Go bald with us crazy head-shaving people!
We are the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-powered childhood cancer charity that raises money for research through head-shaving events across the globe.
(We also got our start on St. Patrick’s Day, when three guys shaved bald in a bar to raise money for kids’ cancer research. But more on that later!)
As the second largest funder of childhood cancer research grants behind the United States government, St. Baldrick’s has funded more than $258 million in grants to researchers working to give kids with cancer a better future.
It’s time once again to join the fight against childhood cancers by funding research and clinical trials that can stop this disease from taking more lives.
You may be a past participant or someone who’s been on the fence about joining a head-shave event. Regardless of your past involvement, we urge you to join our fight to take childhood back from cancer.
It’s Valentine’s Day and that means exchanging cards, chocolates, teddy bears, and flowers with loved ones. The prevailing symbol of Valentine’s Day is the heart – which makes sense, given that the day is all about showing love and affection.
Because the heart is so central to Valentine’s Day, it’s a useful time to reflect on how childhood cancers impact this vital organ. Unfortunately, childhood cancers affect far more than the parts of the body in which they emerge – brain cancer doesn’t just harm the brain; leukemia doesn’t just affect the blood; and bone cancers often spread to the major organs.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation
1333 South Mayflower Avenue, Suite 400
Monrovia, CA 91016 USA
(888) 899‑2253 · sbinfo@stbaldricks.org
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, IRS identification number 20-1173824.
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