2017 was a big year, full of breakthroughs, incredible stories and some pretty amazing achievements in the childhood cancer world. Join us as we reflect on St. Baldrick’s top 10 highlights of the past year — and make sure you give yourself a pat on the back, because much of this was possible because of YOU!
Are you ready to take a trip down memory lane? Here we go …
1) Passage of the RACE Act
You helped pass the Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) for Children Act, which will advance pediatric cancer research and could save lives. Read this blog by Rob Lenfestey, the dad to Honored Kid Scott, and learn what the RACE Act means to him.
2) Action Days 2017
Your voices were heard during Action Days 2017, when thousands of advocates came together to speak up for kids with cancer on Capitol Hill. In this photo essay, get a glimpse of the action — and some of the sharpest dressed Honored Kids we know!
3) Shavee takes his sister, who had cancer, to prom
This St. Baldrick’s shavee wanted to make his sister’s dreams come true — on what would turn out to be the last night of her life. Click here for a story that will leave your heart full and your tissue box empty.
4) Immunotherapy saved Phineas
2017 Ambassador Phineas is alive today because people like you help fund lifesaving kids’ cancer research. Watch this amazing video about his journey!
5) International Scholar Dr. Lubega gives Ugandan families hope
Investing in the next generation of childhood cancer researchers — like researcher and St. Baldrick’s International Scholar Dr. Joseph Lubega – can change the lives of kids with cancer all over the world. Get an eye opening, inspiring look at the work and impact of Dr. Lubega in his home country by following the story of his patient Christa and her mom, Belinda.
6) The birth of a St. Baldrick’s-supported breakthrough called Kymriah
In this blog series, explore the journey of Kymriah — a newly approved immunotherapy for kids’ cancer — through the stories of the kids and researchers involved in the development of this groundbreaking gene therapy.
7) The Dream Team* discovers a potential new weapon against neuroblastoma
Just in time for Childhood Cancer Awareness month, St. Baldrick’s researchers announced a discovery that could radically transform treatment for kids with neuroblastoma.
8) The FDA approves CAR T cell therapy for kids with relapsed leukemia
In a momentous action that changed the odds for pediatric patients across the country, the FDA approved Kymriah — the first gene therapy in the U.S. — and made it available to kids with high-risk, relapsed leukemia.
9) Research into DIPG moves forward thanks to the partnership between St. Baldrick’s and the McKenna Claire Foundation
St. Baldrick’s researcher Dr. Rameen Beroukhim is working to crack the code of DIPG, a fatal, devastating pediatric brain cancer — and he’s doing it with help from a unique grant created in memory of St. Baldrick’s Honored Kid McKenna Claire.
10) IHS Markit goes global with a 24-hour head-shaving event
How do you raise the bar when you already hold head-shaving events across the world AND you’ve raised nearly $3 million for childhood cancer research? Well, if you’re the company IHS Markit, you throw a 24-hour head-shaving party and live stream employees’ shaves from across the globe!
*Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
In 2017, more than 41,000 people shaved their head at 1,179 events. Plus, with over 413,000 donors, we raised $39 million to support the best childhood cancer research.
That’s pretty awesome, but with your help we can make 2018 better than ever …
Over the years, we’ve shaved more than 400,000 heads. Will yours be next? Find an event near you and sign up today! Can’t find one? You can still be a virtual shavee™.
Want to host a party that’s fun and helps kids with cancer? Sign up to be a Volunteer Event Organizer (VEO) and we’ll help make it happen!
We think St. Baldrick’s events are amazing — but they wouldn’t be half as amazing without our volunteers. Who else would recruit participants, promote the event, and make sure the day is a success? Get registered and your local VEO will get in touch with you.
With over 50,000 shavees each year, barbers are in high demand! If you’re a licensed barber or cosmetologist and you want to lend your time and talent to helping kids with cancer, sign up today and your local VEO will get you on the schedule.
Not ready to shave your head? That’s OK! There’s no limit to the ways you can fundraise for kids’ cancer research. Plus, you can even link your fundraiser to a team or event to help them reach their goal.
Not up for fundraising yet? No problem! Donate today and together we can take childhood back from cancer.
SBF
Tweets »
