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Press Release

Childhood Cancer Research Grant Given in Honor of Grand Cayman Child


October 19, 2017
    • Press Release
    • For Immediate Release

 

  • Media Contact:
    • Traci Shirk
    • 626.792.8247 ext. 250
    • traci@stbaldricks.org

Childhood Cancer Research Grant Given in Honor of Grand Cayman Child

GRAND CAYMAN (October 16, 2017) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, is proud to announce that a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund created in honor of Hannah Meeson from George Town, Grand Cayman, will support lifesaving childhood cancer research.

This year, the Hannah’s Heroes St. Baldrick’s Scholar Grant was awarded to Dr. Pratiti Bandopadhayay at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This $75,000 research grant will support Dr. Bandopadhayay in identifying drugs that can be combined with JQ1, a drug that can hinder effects of medulloblastoma, to improve effectiveness.

“We are thrilled and honored to name the grant for Dr. Bandopadhayhayay’s research,” said Nigel and Gaylene Meeson, Hannah’s parents. “It excites us to know that we are empowering world class researchers like Dr. Bandopadhayay and others to radically change the course of childhood cancer treatments. And it gives us hope that a cancer-free future might one day be possible. Hannah’s Heroes is proud to be a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund.”

The Hannah’s Heroes Hero Fund was created by Gaylene and Nigel in honor of their daughter, Hannah, who was diagnosed with anaplastic medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer, in July 2012 at the age of 4. Hannah was based at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital in Houston, Texas, for treatment, and completed six weeks of proton radiation with sedation to her whole brain and spine. This was followed by six months of triple drug chemotherapy. In April 2013, Hannah’s MRI showed disease progression and she began another triple drug chemotherapy treatment. Despite the persistence of the disease, Hannah beat it and now shows no evidence of disease.

Last September, hundreds of people gathered in Grand Cayman’s Cricket Square in support of Hannah, witnessing more than 100 people shaving their heads in solidarity with kids affected by cancer, raising nearly $352,000 for childhood cancer research. This year’s St. Baldrick’s signature head-shaving event was held on Sept. 22, as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, where they surpassed their fundraising goal by an additional $40,000.

A St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund is an ongoing way for friends, family members, or groups to donate or raise funds for a loved one. To learn more about the program visit the Hero Fund page.

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 is leading the charge to take childhood back from cancer by funding 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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