New Beginnings

So if you watched the Stand Up To Cancer telecast on Friday night, you heard the Big News: Stand Up To Cancer announced a collaboration with St. Baldrick's and the coming formation of a Dream Team of researchers dedicated to childhood cancers! I think the details of what this will look like and how the funding will work are still to be determined, but it is definitely a HUGE step in the right direction. There was quite a bit of focus on children, adolescents, and young adults on the show, fitting for September and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and hopefully, that focus will be sustained throughout the year - every year, until we find a CURE.

Here is the Stand Up To Cancer introduction of its newest partner:

The St. Baldrick's Foundation, a leader in the childhood cancer community, is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most-promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. 

Childhood cancer is a global crisis, yet research to combat it remains under-prioritized and underfunded. St. Baldrick's funds work to fill this void and support lifesaving research so that children with cancer not only survive, but thrive. Committing more than $101 million in research grants since 2005, the St. Baldrick's Foundation remains the largest funder of childhood cancer research grants, second only to the U.S. government.

"I consider St. Baldrick's the most forward looking and robust philanthropic foundation for childhood cancer," said Crystal Mackall, M.D., National Cancer Institute.

In the past decade, St. Baldrick's funding has made a powerful impact, including contributing to five major childhood cancer research accomplishments: a new cure for neuroblastoma; an improved cure rate for a common type of childhood cancer; raising the cure rate from 20% to 70% for rare type of childhood leukemia; accelerating scientific discovery for rare cancers; and training the next generation of childhood cancer researchers.

"Without the support of St. Baldrick's, the challenge of doing research across this country would be almost impossible," said Peter C. Adamson, M.D., Chair of the Children's Oncology Group.

St. Baldrick's Foundation supporters are the driving force of a global movement to conquer childhood cancers; these donors, researchers, families, kids and volunteers have joined the cause in bold ways. At St. Baldrick's signature head-shaving events, people of all ages and from all walks of life discover a power they didn’t know they had: to give hope and the promise of a future to the bravest children in the world. St. Baldrick's participants shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer to raise money for lifesaving research.  Others climb mountains and run triathlons in the name of St. Baldrick's, and many lend their voices to the cause through St. Baldrick's childhood cancer advocacy network, Speak Up for Kids' Cancer.

In related news, you may have noticed that St. Baldrick's has a new logo:

From St. Baldrick's:

The evolution was simple – we wanted to respect the Irish roots, while showing today’s broader St. Baldrick’s identity.

The “S” and “B” represent “St. Baldrick’s,” while also forming the shape of a four-leaf clover.

The four “leaves” of the clover represent you -- the volunteers, donors, researchers and families who come together under the St. Baldrick’s name to fund and conduct the best childhood cancer research.

Finally, the word “Foundation” is prominent – reminding the world at large that we are more than a head-shaving event, we are leaders. We – all of us together – are leading the charge against childhood cancer – and we intend to win.

We are so proud to be a part of this organization and so honored to join them in the FIGHT.