St. Baldrick’s Foundation: Funding More Childhood Cancer Research than Any Org. Except U.S. Gov
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Worldwide, every 3 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. In the U.S. it is the leading cause of death by disease among children; 1 in 5 children diagnosed will not survive. Yet childhood cancer accounts for less than 4% of all cancer research funding allotted by the federal government.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer research, is leading the charge against children’s cancer. Since the Foundation’s first grants were issued as an independent charity in 2005, it has funded over $78 million in childhood cancer research – more than any other organization except the U.S. government.
“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 and St. Baldrick’s Scientific Advisor.
The rapid progress in finding cures for childhood cancers over the last 40 years was made possible because most children with cancer are treated on a clinical trial. With only 4% of all federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric cancers, and more than 75% of children receiving treatment through clinical trials, St. Baldrick’s grants are critical to giving patients access to a trial that offers the best treatments.
“My son, Justin, wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the funding of childhood cancer research. Justin has spent the last four years of his treatment in research studies; they have been tough years but he is overcoming the obstacles put in front of him because of the research studies available to him,” said Lori Miller, mother to Justin.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation grants have helped fund significant advancements in childhood cancer research:
- New Cure for Neuroblastoma: Only 1 in 3 kids with high-risk neuroblastoma were cured, until research resulted in a new treatment that harnesses the power of the immune system. Now almost half may be cured.
- Improved cure rate for most common type of childhood cancer: The relapse rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been cut in half by using an old drug in a new way. Cure rates have gone from 80% to 90%.
- Raising cure rate from 20% to 70% for rare type of childhood leukemia: By adding a new drug to treatment regimens (Gleevec), more than 70% of kids with Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL can now be cured.
- Accelerating scientific discovery for rare cancers: For several types of childhood cancers that are especially rare and difficult to cure, answers to key research questions will be available years earlier, due to an initiative funded completely by the Foundation.
- Training the next generation of childhood cancer researchers: St. Baldrick’s is making a huge difference in the future of childhood cancer research, by training new researchers to replace the many who will be retiring over the next 10 years.
These strides in life-saving childhood cancer research are made possible by the creativity and dedication of St. Baldrick’s volunteers and the generosity of donors. The most popular fundraising events are the Foundation’s signature head-shaving events, where volunteers get bald in solidarity with kids with cancer.
More About This Charity
Region
West
Category
Charity of the Year, Most Creative Fundraiser by a Charity
Name
St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Mission
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation 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.
Impact
- More than $78 million granted to childhood cancer research, since the Foundation’s first grants as an independent charity in 2005
- More than 5,500 head-shaving events
- More than 243,000 shavees (including more than 24,000 women)
- More than 440 childhood cancer research grants funded to over 200 institutions for laboratory and clinical research and to help make clinical trials available
- Approx. 82% of every dollar spent goes to research to find a cure
Works In
U.S., Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom and more
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