$50,000 Awarded to Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to Support Groundwork for Childhood Cancer Research

ATLANTA, Ga. (November 30, 2016) – Childhood cancer patients depend on clinical trials to find better, safer cures that can prevent lifelong damage as a result of radiation and chemotherapy. The Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will receive an infrastructure grant from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to expand access to their clinical trials.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has multiple hospital locations, including three which treat cancer patients. Many of their patients become very familiar with a campus, and when they relapse they often want to stay at the campus where their initial treatment took place. This funding from St. Baldrick’s, totaling $50,000, allows Children’s to ensure that their patients on both campuses have access to the same innovative treatments and resources.

“We are deeply humbled and grateful for St. Baldrick’s generous grant,” said Cynthia Wetmore, M.D., Ph.D., director for the Center for Clinical and Translational Research at the Aflac Cancer Center. “We appreciate the great working relationship we have with St. Baldrick’s volunteers, and many of the Aflac Cancer Center team enjoys taking part in our annual St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event.”

Infrastructure grants are awarded based on the need of the institution and its patients, anticipated results of the grant, and local participation in St. Baldrick’s fundraising events and activities.

“Organizing our annual St. Baldrick’s event in Atlanta is, hands down, the best thing I do with my life,” said David Alexander co-volunteer event organizer of the St. Baldrick’s event at Rí Rá Irish Pub in Atlanta. “Since 2010, we’ve raised more than $1 million and we are so proud that so much of that money came back to help kids fighting cancer at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Next year’s event is going to be bigger and balder than ever!”

This series of grants, combined with the more than $22 million awarded in July, brings the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s funding total to $24.1 million awarded in 2016.

To learn how you can get involved visit www.StBaldricks.org, and connect with St. Baldrick’s on social media via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Vimeo.

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts who are working to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best cancer treatments for kids.

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