Childhood Cancer Research Grant Given in Honor of New Jersey Child

Sergeantsville, N.J. (May 21, 2018) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, is proud to announce the Rays of Hope St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund created in honor of Rayanna Marrero from Sergeantsville, N.J., will support lifesaving childhood cancer research at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Melissa Mavers, M.D., instructor of pediatrics at the Stanford University School of Medicine, was granted a $97,500 St. Baldrick’s Fellow award, supported by the Rays of Hope St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund, which she will use to support her research on graft-versus-host disease.

Many children with cancer cannot be cured with chemotherapy alone and must undergo a bone marrow transplant, as well. This combined treatment process uses very high doses of chemotherapy to attack the cancerous cells, while the bone marrow transplant rebuilds the immune system, which is destroyed by such high chemotherapy doses. In many cases, rebuilding a new immune system causes immune cells to attack the body, resulting in graft-versus-host disease. Dr. Mavers studies ways to use special cell types to stop this disease and make stem cell transplantation a safer way to treat cancer.

The Rays of Hope St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund was created in memory of 3-year-old Rayanna Marrero, a brave, bubbly cancer fighter who battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Rayanna was a beautiful, giggly little girl filled with compassion for everyone around her. Her spirit and energy touched the lives of so many and her story continues to make a positive impact through her St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund.

“Our family and the many that have supported Rays of Hope Hero Fund are grateful for Dr. Mavers’ continued research and progress toward ending the debilitating, and often fatal, effects of graft-versus -host-disease,” said Rayanna’s grandmother, Linda Swackhamer. “Progress in this field of pediatric oncology research helps lessen the grief of our Rayanna’s shortened life. May her strength and spirit continue to guide Dr. Mavers in her research.”

Since 2013, the Rays of Hope Hero Fund has raised more than $270,000 to support the most promising childhood cancer research and give survivors long and healthy lives. A St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund is an ongoing way for friends, family members, and groups to donate or raise funds to honor a loved one. To learn more about the program visit the St. Baldrick’s 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 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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