Press Releases


Press Release

Promising Research by St. Baldrick’s-Stand Up To Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team Funded in Honor of Tampa Child


October 14, 2020
  • Press Release
  • For Immediate Release
  • Media Contact:
    • Michele Franco
    • 626.792.8247 ext. 264
    • michele.franco@stbaldricks.org

Promising Research by St. Baldrick’s-Stand Up To Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team Funded in Honor of Tampa Child

Tampa, Fl. – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, is proud to announce Hope4ATRT, a St. Baldrick’s charity partner, will support lifesaving childhood cancer research being conducted by the St. Baldrick’s-Stand Up 2 Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team. Hope4ATRT was established in honor of Zion Yamoah.

This Dream Team’s mission is to bring together two separate fields – genomics and immunotherapy – to find cures for the most hard-to-treat childhood cancers. Dream Teams are a program of Stand Up 2 Cancer, a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, and this pediatric team is supported by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and ten participating research institutions.

The Dream Team has made ground-breaking progress in treatments for kids with cancer, by harnessing a child’s own immune system to fight cancer, especially leukemias. The Team now has an added focus on solid tumors. This year, their research in atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) specifically, is generously supported by a gift from Hope4ATRT, in partnership with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The research which honors the memory of Zion and all ATRT warriors is taking place primarily at Stanford University.

Zion was diagnosed with AT/RT, an extremely rare type of brain tumor that mainly affects children under age 3. Zion’s parents, Dr. Kosj and Jaymi Yamoah, were dismayed by the limited and outdated options of treatment. Zion passed away in July 2016 after a 15-month battle with AT/RT. His love of music and his bright spirit inspired his parents to start Hope4ATRT, a foundation dedicated to providing resources to families in the fight and supporting research for cures and treatments for AT/RT.

About Hope4ATRT
Hope4ATRT is a research entity of Out of Zion Inc, dedicated to directing resources and research to families in the fight. Hope4ATRT provides a single dynamic site where parents can go to find all the information they need to navigate their child’s diagnosis, to know exactly what to do, where to go for treatment, and what resources are available to them. Here at Hope4ATRT, we provide resources to parents, as well as support ATRT research. We have experts in the field that make sure parents have the relevant information they need and presented in a way they can easily understand. To learn more visit www.hope4atrt.org, and connect on Facebook and Instagram.

Hope4ATRT is hosting a virtual ATRT Rally on November 7, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. to raise funds and awareness for ATRT research. To learn more about this event and how to support this work visit www.hope4ATRT.org/rally.

About St. Baldrick’s Charity Partners
Partners invest with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in research to find less-toxic treatments and cures for all kids with cancer, together. To learn more about charity partners, visit the St. Baldrick’s Partners page.

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Every 2 minutes a child somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of pediatric cancer research grants, is on a mission to give kids a lifetime by supporting the most promising research to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. When you give to St. Baldrick’s, you don’t just give to one institution–you give to virtually every institution treating kids with cancer across the U.S. and beyond. As a leader in the pediatric cancer community, St. Baldrick’s works tirelessly to ensure that current and future children diagnosed with cancer will have access to the most cutting-edge treatment from the best leaders in the pediatric oncology field. Join us at StBaldricks.org and help #GiveKidsALifetime.

###