Two years of Pandemic has taken a toll of so many of us, but while Covid raged kids continued to be diagnosed. In many cases, much later then should be the case, as fear of Covid keep families away from medical institution out of fear of Covid-19. The pandemic also continued to have a massive negative impact of raising funds for childhood cancer research for the St Baldrick's Foundation. As in person events could not be held again last year, The Foundation's fundraising totals dropped again. this had a material impact on the research we were able to fund in 2021. All of this hurt kids and families with cancer. now as we are hopefully at the end stages of the Covid Pandemic it is time for us to once again stand with kids with cancer and support the St Baldrick's Foundation to take childhood back from cancer by funding the the best start of the art science of finding a cure for all childhood cancers.
Today kids too many kids are diagnosed every day with a childhood cancer. And wile cure rates in general have improved over time, a lot of that depends on which type of cancer the child is diagnosed with. The general comment is 4/5 children will now survive a childhood cancer diagnosis. this number is an improvement since the Foundation started, it is a bit misleading. A diagnosis with ALL Leukemia, one of the most common and survivable cancers is great. But a diagnosis of a rarer and more deadly cancer like neuroblastoma has a significant lessor survival rate. And the cure in many case remains worse than the cancer. Bringing life long side effects, including respiratory, cardiac, infertility, cognitive issues, as well as secondary cancers. So there is still lots of work to do to find a more humane cure for all childhood cancers.
As such, I will once again be shaving my head in solidarity with kids who have fought, are currently fight or sadly will be diagnosed with a childhood cancer in the future. This will be my 25th shave for kids with cancer. So many of you have been so generous supporting my efforts in the past and for that I cannot thank you enough. And I humbly ask for your support in my efforts to raise money for life saving research that will hopefully find a more humane cure for all childhood cancers, so that all children can live a very happy life and ultimately fulfill their full potential in life.
Thank you in advance for your continued support and generosity. Together we can all Conquer Kids Cancer!
John
