Uncategorized Archives - CURE Childhood Cancer

Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving

CURE Childhood Cancer is joining forces with Atlanta area Jersey Mike’s Subs for the 13th Annual March “Month of Giving” campaign. During the month of March, customers can donate to CURE at participating Atlanta-area Jersey Mike’s restaurants.

The Month of Giving campaign will culminate with Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” on Wednesday, March 29, when local Jersey Mike’s restaurants will give 100 percent of the day’s sales – not just profit – to CURE.

On Day of Giving, local Jersey Mike’s owners and operators throughout the country will donate their resources and every single dollar that comes in to more than 200 different charities including hospitals, youth organizations, food banks, and more.

This March, Jersey Mike’s hopes to exceed last year’s record-breaking national fundraising total of $20 million and help local charities striving to fulfill their missions and make a difference.

“I would like to extend a personal invitation to you and your family to visit Jersey Mike’s Subs throughout the month of March, and especially on Day of Giving when 100 percent of sales – every penny – goes to help a great local cause,” said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO, who started the company when he was only 17 years old.

Throughout March, customers can make donations through the Jersey Mike’s mobile app or onsite. On Day of Giving, Jersey Mike’s restaurants will donate their resources and every single dollar that comes in — whether in-store, on-line, or through the app.

Since Month of Giving began in 2011, Jersey Mike’s has raised more than $67 million for local charities! Click HERE to find a Jersey Mike’s near you.

Mark Myers In Uncategorized

Big Goals & a Big Heart

Patricia started her new year with big goals and a big heart.

The Austin, Texas, native has always enjoyed running. She ran cross country in high school and often runs with her father. But in 2023, she plans on stretching her runs even further. She signed up for the Steamboat Marathon in June and is starting the training that will get her to the finish line.

“Running is my happy space,” Patricia said. “I like the mental aspect of it and have always wanted to do a marathon.”

While she is in great shape already, she’s not running just for herself. She’s also running for a little girl named Claire and other children with cancer. Patricia earned a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Special Education. During her first year of teaching, three-year-old Claire was one of her students. They immediately became close, so Claire’s diagnosis was devastating to her.

“Claire was diagnosed with DIPG, which is a brain tumor with a very poor prognosis,” Patricia explained. “She came to school as often as she could. But after four months, she wasn’t able to. So for the next four months, I would go to her home to spend time with her. We didn’t really have a teacher/student relationship. They welcomed me into their family.”

Sadly, Claire passed away after an eight-month fight. But she left an indelible mark on Patricia’s life. In fact, Patricia quit teaching and went back to school to become a play therapist. Play therapists help children to make sense of difficult life experiences or complex psychological issues through play.

“I had to come to school and explain Claire’s sickness to other students, and then I had to share when she died,” Patricia said. “I wasn’t equipped for that role, but helping children is what I’ve always wanted to do.”

Claire’s fingerprints are also all over Patricia’s marathon. An important part of her effort is raising money to fund research through CURE. She uses the hashtag #Morethan4forClaire

“When I learned that less than 4% of the federal cancer research budget goes to solving childhood cancers, I had to do something to help,” Patricia said. “It is incredibly difficult to see a child you love go through treatment. The least I can do is run a marathon to raise money.”

Patricia’s fundraising goal is $5000, and with more than five months to go, she’s already well on her way. So if you see her pounding out long runs on the streets of Austin, cheer her on. Better yet, click HERE and support her effort.

Mark Myers In Uncategorized

Quiet Heroes offers a Special Connection

Being a mom can be exhausting on the best of days. The effort required to keep every family member fed, clothed, clean, and delivered, not to mention happy, is exhausting. When you add a childhood cancer diagnosis, things can unravel quickly.

Kristen Hazen found out just how isolating a cancer diagnosis can be. Her fifteen-year-old daughter, Hannah, is a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor who was diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic. She finished her treatment in October 2021 and is doing great today. One thing that Kristen missed out on was getting to know other parents dealing with cancer treatment.

“When you’re in this unfortunate club, you want to share your feelings and fears with other people who understand,” she explained. “I didn’t get to be around other moms. In fact, last year’s A Tribute to Our Quiet Heroes was the first time I got the chance to sit down with moms like me.”

CURE created A Tribute to Our Quiet Heroes to be a haven where the moms of children with cancer can rest and lay down their concerns for one afternoon to enjoy laughing, pampering, and a unique sisterhood. The luncheon honors more than 250 mothers, many of whom come straight from the hospital to attend.

Kristen (center) with two new friends at Quiet Heroes

“Once we got through the introductions, our conversation around the table was very meaningful,” Kristen said. “It was a place where I felt understood, and we were able to offer validation, support, and encouragement to each other. This was the first place where I felt completely comfortable sharing my journey.”

Kristen admits that she was a little hesitant to go since she didn’t know anyone who would be there. But she found a quick and solid connection very quickly.

“To that mom who might be worried about going, I would encourage her to take that step and attend,” Kristen said. “You will be surrounded by like-minded ladies and will build bonds quickly. I am so glad I went and look forward to this year’s event.”

Quiet Heroes is a special place of rest like no other – and not just for the moms of children with cancer. This luncheon is the perfect time to share a relaxing and inspirational afternoon featuring radio host and Quiet Hero Jenn Hobby as emcee, keynote message by comedian, life lover, and inspirational speaker Derrick Tennant, and a special performance by American Idol season 12 winner Candice Glover and the SCAD HoneyBees.

Make plans to attend the Quiet Heroes luncheon on Saturday, March 25, at Flourish Atlanta. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit quietheroes.org.

LEARN MORE ABOUT QUIET HEROES

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Lorelai and Precision Medicine

You are the reason a child is alive!

When Lorelai couldn’t perform tasks typical for a four-month-old, like rolling over or holding her head up, her parents became very concerned. They took her to the hospital, and a CT scan showed an enormous tumor on her brain. Lorelai had a high-grade glioma, a fast-growing tumor that spreads quickly and has a dire prognosis.

Despite risky surgery and six months of toxic chemotherapy, the tumor continued to grow.

Because traditional treatments were failing her, Lorelai’s doctors turned to CURE’s donor-funded Precision Medicine Program for answers. A sample of her tumor was sent for genetic analysis, and a specific mutation was identified. Fortunately, a drug exists that targets this mutation and stops tumor growth.

The results saved her life.

After two months of this new therapy, the residual tumor drastically reduced in size. Lorelai is now progressing in her age-related milestones, and with physical therapy, she is developing as she should. Her mother, Kathryn, said:

“This drug has been revolutionary for us.
It is essentially why my child is alive today.”

Your generosity to CURE gave Lorelai a most precious gift – the gift of life. This holiday season, you can give kids with cancer a gift more valuable than any toy —their best chance to beat their disease.

Please give today to bring us one step closer to a world without childhood cancer.

DONATE

What Is Precision Medicine?

Every child is unique. Thanks to your support, their cancer treatments can be too.

Our focus on advancing the use of precision medicine to treat children with cancer launched in 2017 and has been our highest priority since then, with a total investment of $10 million.

An easy way to understand precision medicine is to think of it as “personalized medicine.” Although we know that every child is unique, today’s childhood cancer treatment does not take into account the genetic differences of each child. Rather, a child’s cancer is treated according to disease type. But often, children with the same type of cancer respond differently to the same treatment. A chemotherapy which is effective for some may fail altogether for others because of the genetic differences at play. That is where personalized medicine comes in.

The vision of precision medicine is to provide personalized, non-toxic, and curative therapy for all children with cancer by genetically mapping a child’s tumor and targeting the problem mutations. To achieve this aim, genetic testing seeks to identify targets that allow doctors to create individualized treatments to destroy the mutated cells.

Since our focus on precision medicine began, 85% of the children who received genetic mapping with CURE’s funding found their treatments impacted by the information obtained. But the impact of precision medicine goes well beyond the child’s cancer treatment. Genetic testing can change a diagnosis or reveal a genetic predisposition to cancer that can affect a family for generations.

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Myles and Precision Medicine

When was the last time you were responsible for a miracle?

Thanks to you, Myles got one last spring.

When Myles began experiencing overwhelming headaches and erratic, unusual behavior, his parents took him in for a CT scan. They were devastated to learn that Myles had a high-grade glioma – a brain tumor with a very poor prognosis. Current treatment for this cancer type includes multiple rounds of radiation combined with toxic chemotherapies, which often cause debilitating long-term side effects.

But genetic analysis through CURE’s donor-funded Precision Medicine Program proved that Myles’ tumor wasn’t a high-grade glioma at all. Instead, it was a type of tumor for which there is a pill known to effectively inhibit growth. Since he began taking the pill, the tumor has shrunk by 40%, and Myles has experienced zero side effects. He’s even playing basketball again!

“Precision medicine took us from a terrible diagnosis to a manageable treatment with no side effects. It was truly a miracle.”

– Melissa, Myles’ mom

Myles’ miracle happened because of you and your support of CURE’s research efforts. Until precision medicine becomes the standard of care for all children, more kids facing childhood cancer are counting on you for their miracle to find effective treatments without life-altering side effects.

Please give today to bring us one step closer to a world without childhood cancer.

DONATE

What Is Precision Medicine?

Every child is unique. Thanks to your support, their cancer treatments can be too.

Our focus on advancing the use of precision medicine to treat children with cancer launched in 2017 and has been our highest priority since then, with a total investment of $10 million.

Mark Myers In Uncategorized

Claire’s Crew

In September 2020, Claire woke up one day complaining of leg pain. Her mother, Kathleen, noticed a sizable bump on her upper thigh and took her to their pediatrician, who determined it to be an infection. After ten days of antibiotics did nothing to reduce the size of the bump, Claire was taken for an ultrasound.

“I knew right away that something wasn’t right,” said Kathleen. “After the scan, the ultrasound technician immediately went out of the room and talked to the radiologist.”

A follow-up CT scan revealed that Kathleen was right. Claire was scheduled for immediate surgery, after which they would learn that the bump was cancer. The makeup of the tumor was consistent with b-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma. Fortunately, her bone marrow came back clean.

“Claire was lucky because we caught it very early,” shared Kathleen. “After testing on the lymph nodes, it showed her cancer to be lymphoma and not leukemia. But because it is very rare for a four-year-old child to get lymphoma and her disease is presenting like leukemia, we are doing the standard treatment for leukemia.”

The good news is that the change in diagnosis meant that Claire’s cancer was considered low risk.

Claire has responded very well to the chemotherapy. She has little nausea and is able to continue doing the things she loves – riding horses, dancing, and playing with her little brother. She also has been able to go to school, which makes her very happy. Claire should be done with her treatment in November.

Claire’s family has received tremendous support from their Dunwoody community. During September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Claire’s Crew held a walk to raise money for childhood cancer research. It was a very festive atmosphere with popsicles, bubbles, and lots of fun activities for the kids. The afternoon also raised $10,000 to fight childhood cancer!

“I can’t help her with the medical stuff,” said Kathleen. “But I have to do something. It is so important that we fund research that will lead to a cure for these kids. Claire was one of the lucky ones. When we are at the hospital, I look around and see the other kids, and my heart breaks for them.”

Though Claire will be done with her fight later this year, Claire’s Crew isn’t finished fighting for other kids with cancer. Kathleen and her family are planning a big event for 2023 and hope to raise even more than before.

We are thankful that Claire is doing so well. We are also grateful to join Claire’s Crew to fund research that will lead to better cures for kids with cancer.

Mark Myers In Uncategorized

The Hard Work of CURE Crew

“As a former teacher, I love working with students,” said CURE Vice President, Mandy Garola. “In 2020 we decided to form a teen council to give students an opportunity to get involved in the work that CURE does in South Georgia.”

The purpose of CURE Crew Teen Council is to offer high school juniors and seniors in the Savannah and South Georgia area the opportunity to support CURE through fundraising, volunteering, advocacy, and awareness of pediatric cancer. The 40 students on this year’s CURE Crew worked hard over the past twelve months. Here is a list of their accomplishments:

Sold 418 gold mailbox bows/flags
Secured 5 new business partners during childhood cancer awareness month
Planned and executed 6 gold-out athletic games and events in September
Planned and executed 3 dress down days benefiting CURE
Volunteered at 6 annual CURE events
Delivered Holiday Angel gifts to 12 local families that would have otherwise struggled to provide gifts for their children this year
Helped execute our 1st Holiday Family Drive-In Movie dressed as Who’s from Whoville
Secured 4 event business sponsorships and over a dozen auction items
Sold dozens of raffle tickets
Poured many glasses of tea and water at our Catie’s Gathering events in Savannah and Effingham
Established CURE Clubs at 2 local high schools
Worked with school groups to collect donations and assemble bags for patients
In addition they’ve created birthday and end of chemo posters, donated Halloween door decorations, Valentine’s Candy, and made valentines day cards for patients

“After our 2020 Patient Family Drive-Thru Holiday Party was fully executed with the help of CURE Crew students as volunteers, I officially proclaimed that students are better volunteers than adults,” shared Mandy. “I’m not sure if it’s that I was more comfortable telling them what to do or if they were more used to taking orders, but they were amazing and have been ever since.”

Here is a list of the 2021-2022 CURE Crew:

Kalin Bostic
Banks Bradley
Christian Brown
Clara Coppock
Annalin Crawford
Gracie Daters
Thomas Davidson
Colin Dragon
Madeline Drew
Kinsey English

Katherine Ezelle
Mya Felser
Cecilia Frey
John Thomas Gard
Cade Garola
Claire Hayes
Landyn Hildebrandt
Layla Hill
Haley Hiltzheimer
Grace Mahfet

Rylee Mills
Grace Nilson
Chloe Paulick
Zachary PInyan
Anslee Poppell
Jaslyn Price
Cheyenne Ryan
Reese Ritchie
Nicole Sakuma
Colson Slaughter

Harden Smallwood
Matthew Smith
William Smith
Joseph Stoever
Charlton Strong
Bryce Thomas
Gianni Valoze
Andrew Wadley
Jordan Washington
Olivia Wells

“It’s been our pleasure to work with these students,” said Mandy. “I hope they’ve learned some things about childhood cancer, compassion, fundraising, and serving others from this experience.”

CURE Crew is accepting applications for the 2022-23 school year through May 15th. Rising juniors and seniors may apply by clicking the button below.

Apply for CURE Crew

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A Record-Breaking Night

Catie’s Gathering started after Jenny Wilkins lost her four-year-old daughter, Catie, to medulloblastoma. One day, Jenny’s friend, Tonya, turned to her and said out of the blue, “Let’s have a dinner and give the proceeds to CURE.”

Thanks to the overwhelming support of her Effingham community, the first Catie’s Gathering has grown into events in five cities across south Georgia and has raised more than $2.8 million. The event helps fund patient and family programs as well as CURE’s Precision Medicine Program, which focuses on individualized treatments based on each child’s genetic makeup.

This year’s event was one for the record books! Catie’s Gathering Effingham, presented by Carlson & Co., was back as an in-person event at the Clarence Morgan Gym in Springfield. Thanks to the tremendous way the community supports this event – it was an amazing night. In addition to sponsoring, Carlson & Co. helped with planning and logistics for the event and supplied tables, chairs, and the evening’s décor. Long-time CURE partners Kaufman-Heinz handled all audio-visual needs for the event.

For the first time in Effingham, there was a VIP tent for sponsors and special guests to kick the night off. Delicious appetizers and a beautiful charcuterie board, both provided by Southern Kafe on 17, and music from Lyn Avenue, set the tone for a fun time in the VIP tent. Meanwhile, guests in the main venue were checking out the tables, beautifully decorated by our hostesses, and perusing auction items while enjoying music from Tell Scarlett.

Attendees were then treated to a delicious meal from Simply Southern Catering, followed by an incredible live auction (complete with a puppy, a trip, and more being auctioned off), door prizes, and two exciting raffle drawings. Former board president for CURE Childhood Cancer, Janet Street, shared her family’s journey through childhood cancer with Cam, a young man gone far too young. While Cam’s story has a tragic ending, Janet shared about his joy despite difficulties and how her family has found a way to move forward after their incredible loss.

The event raised more than any other Catie’s Gathering event to date – an astounding $340,000!

“Effingham County was Catie’s home,” said Jenny. “Our neighbors stood by my family from day one, and the generosity of this community continues to amaze me. Every year, Tre and I are blown away at the support they give children with cancer through this event.”

Thank you, Effingham County, for your generous spirit and for coming out to enjoy a great night!

Photo Gallery

Mark Myers In Children, Events, Uncategorized

Zoe Means Life

Parents of newly diagnosed cancer patients typically have plenty of opportunities to talk to other parents who are also fighting childhood cancer. But the last two years have been anything but typical.

As a pediatric nurse, Courtney Thomas noticed her daughter’s symptoms quickly. After a visit to the doctor, Zoe was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2020, just as the world shut down.

“The pandemic started during her treatment, which added complications,” said Courtney. “But it also prevents us from getting to know other families. The family room has been closed, and most parents stay in their room during treatment. We have felt very isolated at times. It would be nice to connect with other families who understand what we are going through.”

Additionally, events that usually bring the childhood cancer community together have been canceled or held virtually. The Thomas family participated in 2021’s virtual Lauren’s Run and had a great time walking a 2k on the Silver Comet Trail (even after Zoe fell asleep.) This year, they are very much looking forward to the in-person Lauren’s Run & Picnic.

“Zoe’s name is Greek, and it means ‘life,’” explained Courtney. “So our team name is Zoe Means Life, and we are super excited to celebrate the day with CURE’s staff and other cancer families!”

A month before Zoe was diagnosed, her father, T.J., started a new job with Wren Solutions. Even though he was a brand-new employee, the company has backed him and his family in every way possible.

“The people at Wren were great from the start,” Courtney said. “He was always going to work from home. But many times, he had to work odd hours while we juggled treatment with our other two kids. They have been wonderful.”

Wren Solutions has also stepped up to support T.J. and his family by becoming a Gold Sponsor for Lauren’s Run & Picnic.

“Finding a cure for childhood cancer is an important cause for us now,” Courtney said. “It means a lot to us for them to not only support us during treatment but to stay behind us by investing in the cause that is near to our family’s hearts.”

Treatment for leukemia is very long, but Zoe is getting close to the end. She has one more spinal tap and will take her last oral chemo in June. She has done well with treatment and looking forward to ringing the bell that signifies its end. She would also love to see you at Lauren’s Run & Picnic.

Lauren’s Run & Picnic is Atlanta’s favorite day of family fun. The event has raised more than $4.8 million to fight childhood cancer over the years. But it’s not just a run. After the race, there is an over-the-top picnic filled with games, prizes, elaborate face painting, inflatables, music and dancing, arts and crafts, a full lunch, and much more. Learn more and register at laurensrun.org. Zoe will see you there!

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A Party for Natalie

A Quinceañera is a celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday that is widely celebrated throughout Latin America. Symbolically, it marks her passage from girlhood to womanhood. It is a big deal for many young ladies, and they begin planning it when they turn fourteen. But that didn’t happen for Natalie Guzman.

Natalie had been a very healthy child until she began losing weight and sleeping more often at the age of thirteen. Her pediatrician drew blood and confirmed that her labs looked normal for her age. But her weight loss continued, and she began getting stomachaches. When she noticed bruising on her body, her doctor sent her to the emergency room for more testing. It was there that Natalie was diagnosed with leukemia – just one day before her fourteenth birthday.

“Despite knowing something was wrong, you are never ready to receive news like that.” Shared her mother, Sandra. We were devastated.”

Planning for Natalie’s Quinceañera was put on hold while she began treatment.

“My first thought was, ‘am I going to die?’” said Natalie. “I was very scared because we have family members who have passed away from cancer.”

The first round of chemotherapy eliminated 97% of her cancer. The treatment was harsh, but her body responded well to it, and she began her journey to remission. Then the pandemic hit. While she was starting to feel better, it was hard to focus on planning for her 15th birthday. With stores closed and quarantines in place, it was also difficult to shop for the traditional clothes and favors. To keep Natalie safe, her family planned a drive-by Quinceañera for her.

“Girls look forward to the party for so many years. So doing it the way we had to was like putting a dream on hold because of cancer,” explained Sandra.

Natalie continued treatment as lockdowns and quarantines ended, and when the time came for her next birthday, she was able to celebrate with a wonderful Sweet 16 party! Her family pulled out all the stops and made it a beautiful day for her. An even greater celebration happened a few months later as Natalie walked out of the hospital cancer-free.

Throughout their fight, Natalie and her family clung to their faith, especially verse 10 from Isaiah 41, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Sandra remembers those days in the hospital and refers to CURE as hope for families diagnosed. She appreciates the meals they received and also very tangible help.

“My husband and I have a small business,” she explained. “But neither of us could work because of Natalie’s cancer treatments. CURE paid our mortgage for two months, which was a big relief. When the pandemic made our business very slow, CURE paid another mortgage payment. I’m so glad CURE was there to support our family.”

And Natalie is happy to be back in school – healthy and with a full head of hair.

“Being bald was hard on me as a teenage girl,” she said. “But my hair came back curly, and I like it!”

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