When their daughter Kimmy was diagnosed with leukemia, Daniel and Taimi Hachey were told her disease had a 90% survival rate. Later tests showed Kimmy had Philadelphia chromosome-like precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare type, difficult to treat. The adjusted survival rate? Only 50-60%. Her diagnosis went from, “The cure rate is high,” to “We are very concerned about her outcome.”
Unthinkable.
That’s how Dr. Olivier Ayrault described the loss of two school friends to cancer when he was growing up. The experience left an indelible imprint on him and he believes set his course in life to do something to fight cancer.
Have you heard of a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund and wondered what it was — and maybe whether you should have one? Here are the basics, along with how a few families feel about their experience.
Did you know that October is the month when many organizations help their employees with charitable donations?
That’s right – within many company cultures, October is known as “Employee Giving Month.” It’s a great time to generate more revenue for your favorite charity – like the St. Baldrick’s Foundation!
This October ask your employer for more information about some of the following popular fundraising options – and you’ll all be helping fund lifesaving childhood cancer research.
Rare Cancer Day is September 30th, but the St. Baldrick’s Foundation fights rare cancers year-round.
When it comes to cancer, or even diseases as a whole, “rare” is a misleading word.
A rare disease is defined as “any disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, or about 1 in 1,500 people.” About 72% of rare diseases are genetic, and of those, 70% start in childhood.
Worldwide, people with rare diseases make up less than 6% of the population. But more than 6,000 rare diseases have been identified so far, and they affect more than 300 million around the world. If these people were a country, they would be the world’s third largest nation.
No matter when you joined St. Baldrick’s, you’re part of something bigger than anyone could have imagined at the first head-shaving event on March 17, 2000.
On what would have been our 20th anniversary, this year a pandemic had begun. It was a time for regrouping, rather than reflection. But now let’s look at what you’ve helped accomplish, and the challenges we have, to do more for kids with cancer.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time to test your knowledge — and to spread the word about why you support lifesaving research through St. Baldrick’s. And you may learn something new!
Shamari is a 15-year old survivor, serving as a 2020 St. Baldrick’s Ambassador. She’s also a strong advocate for childhood cancer research funding and will be part of the Virtual Day of Action on September 9. Please join the Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer advocacy action network to join her!
Join us on September 9 for a Virtual Day of action to urge Congress to fund the Childhood Cancer STAR Act for another year! Sign up for the St. Baldrick’s Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer advocacy action network to receive email updates for how to participate.
This year during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, while we celebrate progress, let’s spread the word that surviving five years is not enough. We need to give kids a lifetime.
Every year we select five children – with one who has passed away from cancer representing the 1 in 5 who don’t survive. For 2020, we have six kids, in order to include twin brothers Seth and Joel, who died months apart from each other.
More than anything, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a time to honor the thousands of children fighting cancer as well as survivors, and to remember those we have lost. It’s a time for families to tell their stories. And it’s a time for others to listen and learn, show we care, and find ways to help.
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.
Donations made to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation are tax deductible in the U.S. · Privacy Policy
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