Childhood Cancer Research Grant Given in Honor of Wilton Child

WILTON, N.Y. (November 20, 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 Clarkie Carroll, from Wilton, N.Y., will support lifesaving childhood cancer research.

The Team Clarkie Fund was started by Dave and Shannan Carroll in honor of their son, Clarkie, who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that affects more than 250 people each year. After struggling with leg pain throughout his spring lacrosse season, an MRI revealed a mass in his upper right femur. Clarkie underwent 34 weeks of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the top half of his femur and replace it with a titanium prosthesis and donor bone.

Throughout treatment, Clarkie amazed everybody with his strength, positivity, sense of humor and resilience. Clarkie completed treatment in May 2014 and now shows no evidence of disease.

This year, the St. Baldrick’s Team Clarkie Fund will be funding a portion of a $184,184 grant awarded to Jade Wulff, M.D., instructor of pediatrics-oncology at Baylor College of Medicine. Named the “Team Clarkie Fund St. Baldrick’s Fellow,” Dr. Wulff will use this grant to focus on finding targeted treatments for Ewing sarcoma. In 25 percent of children diagnosed with this type of cancer, the disease has spread to other parts of the body. It is especially difficult to treat these children and more than 70 percent die within 5 years. Dr. Wulff is studying the role certain proteins play in allowing tumors to spread and is testing new drugs that inhibit the function of these proteins.

Since 2014, the St. Baldrick’s Team Clarkie Fund has raised more than $377,000 through the family’s fundraising efforts and St. Baldrick’s events.

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 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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