More than $270,000 raised for childhood cancer research

Supporters across the country reunited this year for CureSearch Walks to honor and remember those affected by childhood cancer. 

Participants went above and beyond to help organize Walks in seven cities, as well as virtually, and raised more than $270,000 to support CureSearch-funded research that will lead to the development of new, less-toxic treatments for children with cancer.  

Why do we walk? 

Since 2013, Stacey Windmiller has been involved with the CureSearch Walk, both as a participant and a volunteer, serving on the National Walk Committee. This year, Stacey and her daughter Rachel, a childhood cancer survivor, even organized their own event, the Linthicum Walk. The event raised more than $3,000 as part of the CureSearch National Walk. 

Rachel was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when she was just 14 months old. Her treatment included several rounds of chemotherapy, more than 50 blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, bone marrow aspirations and radiation. As a result of treatment, Rachel suffered through mucositis, shingles, countless fevers, infections and sleepless nights due to pain. 

“Survivorship often comes with a price in the form of long-term medical issues due to the toxicity of the drugs received during treatment,” said Stacey. “We want to help fund research that’s so desperately needed for these children. We want every child diagnosed with cancer to have safer options with fewer side effects. Every child deserves that!”  

Shana Nguyen formed Team Taylor to honor and remember her daughter, Taylor Grace, who passed away from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2015 at three years old.  

Taylor was diagnosed in June of 2013 at 18 months old. For more than a year after treatment, she showed no signs of relapse. That changed in December of 2014.  

“It came back, the devil itself,” said Shana. “She was diagnosed on December 16, 2014 with an uncommon isolated central nervous system relapse in AML. After another strong and courageous fight, her cancer continued to grow. She passed away on February 11, 2015.” 

Shana has been a longtime volunteer for the Twin Cities Walk, serving on the local volunteer committee. Team Taylor has participated in the CureSearch Walk since 2016 and was one of the top fundraising teams in 2021. The team has raised more than $33,000 in the past five years.  

“We are proud to GO GOLD and raise awareness for childhood cancer,” said Shana. “Together, we are fighting for the future every child deserves.” 

Going the Extra Mile 

Walkers spend weeks, or even months leading up to Walk day fundraising and bringing awareness to the urgent, unmet need for safer childhood cancer treatments.  

Northern Virginia CureSearch Walk participants hit a significant milestone this year, helping the event surpass $1 million raised since it began in 2010.  

Janet Jumper was the top individual fundraiser for the event, raising more than $4,000. For the tenth year, Janet and her family, Team Clairebear, walked in honor of childhood cancer survivor, Claire.  

“As we continue to celebrate Claire’s success as a cancer warrior and survivor, it is very present in our minds what she had to endure to treat her neuroblastoma,” said Janet. “Like many survivors, Claire may face side effects of the chemotherapy that could impact her future health. This is why we walk every year – to make a difference so that advanced research gets funded, newer therapies are discovered and children live full, healthy, happy lives.” 

Community Support 

CureSearch Walks wouldn’t be possible without continued support from local, regional and national corporate partners. In addition to providing generous cash or in-kind sponsorships, they often also engage their employees by forming corporate walk teams to raise additional funds and awareness of how we’re working to bring children to the forefront of drug development. 

Denver CureSearch Walk presenting sponsor, Kiewit, hung a special banner from their new headquarters in Colorado to show their support of CureSearch and raise awareness during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The Kiewit Corporate Team also raised more than $5,000 for the Denver Walk! 

Edgewater Insurance + Real Estate, along with Nebraska OLB, JoJo Domann, teamed up to support CureSearch through the Husker Heartbeat Giveback program. Each week, they donated $1,000 to 13 charities, including CureSearch, and collaborated to increase awareness and raise funds through social media and a weekly podcast, The Beat with JoJo Domann. 

LV Lumber, a National CureSearch Walk sponsor, donated 20% of all sales to CureSearch during the month of September. LV Lumber provides premier, high quality wood bats to help enhance the performance of baseball players of all ages. They strive to provide a positive impact on the lives of all players, but most importantly those battling childhood cancer. 

Thank you to this year’s presenting sponsors: Kiewit, Parexel, Merit Medical and Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. 

From all of us at CureSearch, thank you for reuniting with us this year and raising critical funds for childhood cancer research. With your support, we’re providing hope to the 17,000 children diagnosed with cancer every year. 

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CureSearch and Love Your Melon partner to advance childhood cancer research 

At CureSearch, we’re dedicated to bringing childhood cancer patients to the forefront of drug development, but we can’t do it alone. Long-term impact will require collaboration among industry leaders and organizations also dedicated to ending childhood cancer. 

Funding partners like Love Your Melon allow us to support innovative research projects that will lead to new treatments for the 17,000 kids diagnosed with cancer every year. 

A Hat for Every Child 

Entrepreneurs Zachary Quinn and Brian Keller didn’t want to just start a business. They wanted to make a meaningful and positive social impact on the world. During an entrepreneurship class at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, they developed the idea for an apparel company with one goal – give a hat to every child battling cancer in America.  

After surpassing their first goal of giving 45,000 hats away to children battling cancer, they set a new goal to begin funding meaningful research, therapeutic experiences and family support. Love Your Melon just celebrated its ninth birthday and to date, has given more than 232,000 beanies through giving events and hospital visits and over $8.3 million to nonprofit organizations across the United States, like CureSearch, that lead the fight against pediatric cancer for children and families battling pediatric cancer.  

A History of Support 

Love Your Melon donates 50% of net profit from all sales to nonprofit organizations around the world that lead the fight against childhood cancer, including CureSearch. In 2015, the company awarded a grant to CureSearch Young Investigator Kara Davis, DO, of Stanford University to support her work in identifying differences between healthy B-cells and those involved in the development of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).  

Love Your Melon also supported the work of CureSearch Catapult Award recipient Ranjit Bindra, MD, PhD, of Yale University. Dr. Bindra is testing a novel treatment for pediatric glioma, an aggressive brain cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than 25%. His clinical trial is now active at seven different sites. In the next six months, Dr. Bindra’s team aims to open his trial at five additional Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) sites.  

The Love Your Melon team has also participated in CureSearch fundraising events like the Ultimate Hike. In 2018, the team laced up for the Superior Hiking Trail Ultimate Hike and helped raise more than $110,000 for childhood cancer research.  

On the Cutting-Edge  

Recently, Love Your Melon granted $100,000 to support a CureSearch-funded immunotherapy trial for pediatric high-grade glioma. High-grade gliomas are the primary cause of death in children with brain tumors and among the most devastating pediatric cancer diagnoses with a median survival of less than two years. The current standard of care involves surgery, radiation therapy and some combination of chemotherapy. There has not been a significant improvement in survival in decades. 

Elias Sayour, MD, PhD, of the University of Florida is leading a first-in-human, phase I/II clinical trial testing an innovative personalized immunotherapy for pediatric high-grade gliomas. Like a flu vaccine, which takes pieces of the flu virus and activates the immune system against them, Dr. Sayour’s technique takes pieces of a tumor’s genetic material and activates the immune system to identify and destroy that tumor. If high-grade glioma, a hard-to-treat tumor type, is responsive to this immunotherapy, the treatment will likely translate to other pediatric and adult solid tumors as well. 

To date, Love Your Melon has donated more than $8.3 million to nonprofits around the globe to support childhood cancer research, therapeutic experiences, and family support.  

“On behalf of the families battling pediatric cancer, we enthusiastically thank Love Your Melon for their generous support of Dr. Sayour’s research to find new treatments for deadly primary high-grade gliomas,” said Kay Koehler, president and CEO of CureSearch. “Together, we’re creating a brighter future for pediatric cancer patients and their families.” 

Click here to learn more about Dr. Sayour’s project. To purchase a Love Your Melon hat or request a hat for a child you know battling cancer, visit https://loveyourmelon.com/.  

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact: Margetta Thomas 

Communications Manager 

margetta.thomas@curesearch.org 

Global leaders in oncology, biotech join CureSearch Industry Advisory Council 

Industry leaders collaborate to accelerate the pace of pediatric drug development 

Bethesda, Md. – November 3, 2021– CureSearch for Children’s Cancer announced today the addition of five new members to its Industry Advisory Council (IAC), as well as the appointment of Jeffrey Skolnik, MD, as the new Council Chair. The IAC includes leaders from global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and clinical research organizations who champion CureSearch and pediatric cancer programs within the drug development industry. 

“With the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, a proven champion of drug development for children with cancer, and the addition of five strong, globally-recognized leaders in pediatric oncology, CureSearch is proud to continue its mission of facilitating the advancement of drug development for children,” said Chris Riley, national director of corporate healthcare partnerships at CureSearch.  

“It is an incredible honor to Chair the CureSearch IAC. CureSearch is in a unique position to bring together leaders of pediatric oncology drug development, across all functions, in order to accomplish its goals of delivering innovative medicines to children with cancer. I look forward to leading this remarkable team, and working together with the outstanding leadership at CureSearch.” said Dr. Skolnik. 

IAC members are on the council for two years and are allowed to serve a maximum of three terms. New Council members who will begin their term this November are:  

• Debbie Chirnomas, MD, Arvinas 
• Ruchi Gupta, Genentech 
• Geoffrey Kannan, PhD, MD, Labcorp Drug Development 
• Katherine Minson, MD, Parexel  
• Justin Wahlstrom, MD, AbbVie 

Dr. Skolnik, who has served as a member of the IAC for five years, is senior vice president of clinical development for Inovio Pharmaceuticals. He is a practicing pediatric hematologist-oncologist with experience in large pharmaceutical and small biotechnology companies. Dr. Skolnik also has experience in early and late-stage clinical development, and in developing oncology drug programs for children. 

Dr. Chirnomas is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist, with a specialty in stem cell transplant, and VP of oncology clinical research at Arvinas. She was previously VP of clinical development and medical affairs at Gamida Cell. Prior to joining Gamida Cell, Dr. Chirnomas worked at Pfizer and was part of the team that brought Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) through a successful ODAC to approval in the US and EU. 

Dr. Gupta has more than 11 years of regulatory experience within the pharmaceutical industry. She is currently the regulatory program director for Genentech and leads teams in developing, implementing and delivering cross-functional regulatory strategy for projects – adult and pediatric drug development – and filing licensure applications with label updates.  

Dr. Kannan, a pediatric neuro-oncologist, is the senior medical director and oncology team lead for the Americas at Labcorp Drug Development. He also serves as a medical monitor in a wide variety of industry sponsored trials, and is also responsible for the training and professional development of other oncology physicians at Labcorp.  

Dr. Minson is a board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist and medical director at Parexel, with experience in academic clinical research and preclinical drug development. She is a member of the phase I/rare tumor and hematology therapeutic area sections within the overall Hematology/Oncology franchise, and is actively involved in the Pediatric and Cell and Gene Therapy working groups.  

Dr. Wahlstrom, pediatric development lead for AbbVie oncology, is a physician trained in pediatric hematology/oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and has led clinical development efforts in pediatric oncology across multiple assets since 2017. Prior to joining AbbVie in 2017, Dr. Wahlstrom was an assistant professor in the pediatric bone marrow transplant division at the University of California and led clinical trials in pediatric stem cell transplantation. 

“We’re honored to have such a variety of industry leaders join the CureSearch team, and look forward to collaborating and advancing pediatric drug development,” said Jared Brancazio, chair of the CureSearch Board of Directors and vice president of investments at Brancazio Wealth Management of Raymond James. 

CureSearch is a national nonprofit that works to accelerate the development of less-toxic, more effective pediatric cancer treatments by investing in large-scale grants that address areas of critical unmet need. IAC members review potential research projects, offering unique insight and guidance around the needs and potential pitfalls emerging treatments might face in the drug development process. 

To learn more about the IAC, visit https://curesearch.org/advisory-councils.  

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About CureSearch for Children’s Cancer 
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a national nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, Md., works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch focuses on advancing the strongest research out of the laboratory and into clinical trials and development, where better, less-toxic treatments can quickly help children. To learn more visit curesearch.org. 

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Landon Vargas was born on November 26, 2006. He was the oldest son of Beth and Ariel Vargas, and the playful older brother to three siblings. Landon loved to play sports and he always competed with determination, enthusiasm and a smile on his face. Whether winning or losing, Landon’s contagious laughter and positive attitude never wavered. 

In 2009, on Landon’s fourth birthday, he was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cancer. On this day, our lives were forever changed. Upon his diagnosis, a five-year and nine-day long battle began, not only for Landon, but for all those who loved him. What began as what we thought was a normal earache led us to an ultrasound at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and then to a biopsy where we were told, “your child has cancer and it is a very rare form.”

There were an endless number of meetings with doctors to explore different treatment options, and planning for what we were told would be a long and hard road. During the next five years, Landon endured numerous chemotherapy treatments, surgeries, two rounds of proton radiation and several clinical trials. We received opinions and treatments throughout the United States from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania, Nemours Alfred/Dupont Hospital for Children, Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Boston Children’s Hospital, Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, St. Jude’s Hospital for Children in Tennessee, and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. One of Landon’s most incredible and memorable experiences occurred on September 26, 2015 when he received a personal blessing from Pope Francis in Philadelphia. Pope Francis held Landon in his arms, rubbed his head, kissed him several times and gave him a Papal Blessing.

In life, Landon competed on a much higher level. He battled his disease with a light heart, courage well beyond his years and always with an endless smile! Landon was so brave in every circumstance but sadly, after a five-year battle, Landon passed away nine days after his ninth birthday in 2015. Landon was, and continues to be, an inspiration to us all!

Over the course of our journey, we eventually found ourselves out of chemotherapy options. The old treatments had proven to be unsuccessful and nothing new had been developed. We moved on to many different clinical trials but one after another proved ineffective. Some of these trials would treat the tumor but would shoot incredibly high amounts of toxins in our son’s already frail body causing devastating side effects. After years of exhausting every other treatment option, these are the decisions and choices we were forced to make. Like many families, our experience has left us with an emptiness that will never be filled, but we strive to work with CureSearch in an effort to help other families that are currently battling this disease with their child. That is why we are wholeheartedly behind CureSearch, because they provide parents with hope with their cutting-edge research. 

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Pam Shrauger has been a longtime supporter of CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, and is an advocate for childhood cancer research. Pam and her family walked 50 miles for the CureSearch Mile for Child Challenge where friends, family, and members of the community are challenged to walk 10, 30 or 100 miles in 30 days to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer. 

For the Shrauger family, the miles were personal. Nearly ten years ago, Pam’s son Caden was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma, a solid tumor that affects 3.8 percent of all children with cancer.  

The family needed to be within an hour of the hospital where Caden was being treated – 700 miles away. They spent 17 months far away from home while Caden underwent chemotherapy and surgery. “Caden’s battle with cancer touched every facet of our lives; nothing was undisturbed,” Pam said.  

Caden didn’t respond well to treatment so the family tried MIBG therapy, which minimized his disease enough for a stem cell transplant, radiation and immunotherapy. Follow up appointments over the next four years occasionally showed minimal disease, but Caden is now cancer free. 

“He is doing well now with annual survivorship check-ups and is considered cancer free!” said Pam. “Despite some late effects of treatment, Caden is doing extraordinary today, thanks to the efforts of so many. Cures are so desperately needed and research is the only way we’ll get there. We’ll always pour our passion into the effort to cure more children.” 

Today, Caden is a happy, healthy 13-year-old who enjoys hiking, backpacking, playing the drums and wake surfing.  

CureSearch is on a mission to end childhood cancer and funds research that will quickly translate to new treatments for kids like Caden. Often times, treatment options like chemotherapy have lasting side effects that impact a child’s future health and well-being. CureSearch works to address this urgent, unmet need for less-toxic, more effective pediatric cancer treatments.  

Have you or a loved one been impacted by childhood cancer? Share your story with us! Submit a story today to be featured on the CureSearch Heroes blog and Facebook page. curesearch.org/Share-Your-Story  

To learn more about how you can support the search for new cures and treatments for childhood cancer, visit curesearch.org/get-involved.  

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This September, families, friends and communities across the country will come together (virtually) for the National CureSearch Walk to honor and remember those affected by childhood cancer.  

The CureSearch Walk raises funds to accelerate the development of new and less-toxic pediatric cancer treatments. Most current standard childhood cancer treatments were developed before 1990. Our kids deserve better. That’s why CureSearch is working to bring children to the forefront of new drug development to deliver better treatment options to those who need them most.  

National CureSearch Walk sponsor, Parexel, has a similar mission and provides a suite of clinical research services that help life sciences and biopharmaceutical companies across the globe transform scientific discoveries into new treatments.  

“As a leading clinical research organization, Parexel is committed to making a difference in patients’ lives and collaborating with organizations who also keep the patient at the heart of everything they do,” said Katherine Minson, Medical Director and Pediatric Oncologist at Parexel and member of CureSearch’s Industry Advisory Council. “Parexel is delighted to sponsor CureSearch’s 2021 National Walk and join this important effort to provide research funding to find new safe and effective treatments for children with cancer.” 

Register today to walk from any location and support our mission to end childhood cancer! We’re going live on Facebook September 25 at 11 a.m. EST to kick off the National Walk and honor childhood cancer fighters and survivors. Like us on Facebook to tune in. 

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By Amy Fair, Childhood Cancer Survivor & CureSearch Volunteer

I didn’t get to have the traditional high school experience. While my friends were at soccer practice and school dances, I was in the hospital receiving chemotherapy or recovering from the effects it had on my body. When I was 15, I was diagnosed with leukemia and spent two and a half years in and out of the hospital. But I was one of the “lucky” ones because I had a type of childhood cancer with a high success rate. However, that success rate doesn’t take into account the long-term effects cancer and toxic chemotherapy can have on a child’s growing body. In fact, the majority of childhood cancer survivors suffer from serious lifelong side effects including hearing and vision problems, heart issues, and even secondary cancers.

Within my first month of treatment, I suffered a stroke from one of the chemotherapy drugs. It affected the right side of my body, so I had to re-learn how to do everyday activities like walk, write, and tie my shoes. I feel naïve in saying this, but no one said the word “stroke” to me at the time and I think I would have panicked if they had. I hadn’t put together that that’s what had happened to me. In my mind, strokes only occurred in the elderly. I didn’t realize they could happen to anyone.

The stroke caused me to have focal seizures that affected my right arm when I was a teenager. I took medicine and they remained under control. Fast forward 19 years to when I became a full-blown epileptic. I have regular focal seizures and am constantly concerned about having another grand mal seizure. My neurologist tells me I essentially have a bruise on my brain from the cancer treatment I received, and that it causes the neurological impulses to misfire. It will never go away.

I am so thankful for incredible organizations like CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. Due to their diligent work, I, along with many others, am still here today. But it is vital that more research be done to reduce the long-term effects of chemotherapy on childhood cancer survivors. Again, I am one of the “lucky” ones who survived my stroke and my treatment. Many don’t know the warning signs or ignore them not believing they could possibly be having a stroke. These signs cannot be ignored.

October 2021 will mark 25 years since my stroke and I know that I am truly lucky – without the quotes around it – to be able to say that.

To learn more about childhood cancer statistics, survival rates, and long-term effects, visit curesearch.org/childhood-cancer-statistics

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About CureSearch

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch focuses on advancing the strongest research out of the laboratory and into clinical trials and development, where better, less-toxic treatments can quickly help children.

For more information, visit curesearch.org, follow CureSearch on Twitter @curesearch or join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/curesearch.

The post The “Lucky” One: Surviving Childhood Cancer, Stroke and the Effects of Treatment appeared first on CureSearch for Children's Cancer.

Weili Sun’s parents lost their first daughter, Weiwei, to leukemia when she was five years old.

“They rarely talked about her. Forty years later, when they learned that I planned to hike 27 miles in honor of my sister and to raise funds for childhood cancer research, they were ecstatic. They spent hours finding her old pictures, told me stories about how lovely and brave she was, shared their profound loss when she passed away, and let me know how proud they were that I could hike on their behalf and honor my sister,” says Weili.

Weili became a pediatric hematologist/oncologist after enjoying understanding the complex mechanism of disease and looking for new therapeutic options as a PhD student studying leukemia. She previously served as the director of pediatric leukemia at City of Hope and currently, due to her interest in research, is a full-time researcher at Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

“As a pediatric hematology/oncologist specializing in leukemia, I have cured many children and lost many children as well. Today I am a full-time researcher, working on the most cutting-edge new treatment options for the patients who need them most. I know firsthand how critical the need for increased funding is for childhood cancer research. That’s why I hike and fundraise with CureSearch.”

Weili’s first CureSearch Ultimate Hike was in 2018 and encourages people of all skill levels to join! “I am not an athletic person. The first time when I did the hike, because of the busy working schedule, I tried about 4-5 times with the coach. I was able to finish the 27-mile hike. If I can do it, everyone can do
it. I have met many friends during this event and it is a great experience!”

This year Weili is returning to the Pacific Crest Trail in September with colleagues on Team Hope. To donate to Weili’s team, click here.

To register for the 2021 Pacific Crest Trail Ultimate Hike, visit ultimatehike.org/pct

For more information about our upcoming events or to donate to the program, visit ultimatehike.org

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About CureSearch

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch focuses on advancing the strongest research out of the laboratory and into clinical trials and development, where better, less-toxic treatments can quickly help children.

For more information, visit curesearch.org, follow CureSearch on Twitter @curesearch or join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/curesearch.

The post Pediatric Oncologist Treks The Pacific Crest Trail To Honor Sister’s Memory appeared first on CureSearch for Children's Cancer.

Katie Gochenour and Heather Sours are sisters and crusaders for childhood cancer research. Since 2015, they have been walking and hiking in CureSearch fundraising events in honor of Katie’s daughter, Chloe.  

In 2014, Chloe was just five years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood that starts in the bone marrow and spreads to the bloodstream. That’s when she started two and a half years of chemotherapy treatment at the University of Virginia. 

“We are very thankful that Chloe is now a happy, active twelve-year-old. She is pure spunk and pure sass, balled up into an adorable smile,” shared her mother Katie. “So many have not been as lucky. Since our cancer journey began, we have met many wonderful families who have lost their children or whose cancer has returned.”  

“Before Chloe became ill, I didn’t know the research stats. The lack of government funding is so appalling. Americans spend more on potato chips than we spend on children’s cancer research. So our kids’ health relies on organizations like CureSearch to find the treatments and cures they need to survive.”  

“With CureSearch, I know where the money is going and how it is helping. Our family’s passion is to support them, so they can fund the research and clinical trials that will make children’s cancer a thing of the past. So far, we have raised $82,000 and our lifetime goal is to raise $250,000.”  

This year, at the 2021 Ultimate Hike Shenandoah Valley, sisters Katie and Heather will be joined on the trail by the next generation of cancer crusaders—their daughters (and cousins) Chloe and Lauren. Together, Team Chloe will hike 21 miles on May 15. 

“We hope that everyone will join us and support an Ultimate Hike team this year. It couldn’t be more important.” 

ALL is the most common children’s cancer, accounting for 25% of all cancers in children under the age of 15. There are more than 3,000 new cases of ALL diagnosed in children like Chloe in the United States each year. Learn more about active CureSearch research projects to find a cure.   

About CureSearch 

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch focuses on advancing the strongest research out of the laboratory and into clinical trials and development, where better, less-toxic treatments can quickly help children. 

For more information, visit curesearch.org, follow CureSearch on Twitter @curesearch or join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/curesearch. 

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“Everyone has something to contribute. When we’re faced with something painful or difficult, we may feel overwhelmed and powerless to do anything. I know that by participating in the CureSearch Ultimate Hike, I am doing something very important,” shared Katie Oursler. 

When Katie was in graduate school, she spotted a Facebook ad for the Ultimate Hike (UH). An avid hiker, she knew that she wanted to be part of it. She completed the 2019 Canaan Valley Ultimate Hike in West Virginia, trekking 21 miles. Now, she is looking forward to the 2021 Shenandoah hike on May 15 and plans to start training soon.   

“The sense of community from the hike is so strong. It brings together people of compassion all backgrounds: doctors, nurses, researchers, kids, families, friends and individuals who care about children with cancer. And I know first-hand how great the need is to find new treatments and cures.” 

As a Child Life Specialist at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, Katie helps children and families cope with illness and loss, throughout their treatment. Working in the hematology and oncology units, she teaches kids about their bodies, the hospital and the procedures they experience. “The biggest satisfaction I get is when I work with a child. I can see how stressed out they are before a procedure. I offer what I can give, explaining what they are going to see, taste and smell, and I answer any questions they may have. It helps to put them at ease. Then, we try to play and have some fun.” 

On a daily basis, Katie sees the need to find better, less-toxic treatments, tailored to children’s bodies. She wishes that more people could have an understanding of what children and families go through. “I see kids at the beginning, middle and end of their of their treatment. They may be remission or at the end of life. I see how much their bodies can change from the disease, how the cancer attacks the body and the debilitating side effects that medications can have. It’s hard to see a child who should be running around and playing outside, who has to live hooked up to tubes in a hospital.” 

That’s why Katie encourages everyone to participate in finding the cures. “We may think that what we have to offer is small in the scheme of things, but our gifts and talents are important—whether that’s fundraising, organizing, research, interpersonal skills, communications or hiking a trail. Everyone can bring something to the table and make a difference.” 

To get involved in one of our CureSearch events and make a difference in the lives of kids with cancer visit https://curesearch.org/fundraise

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About CureSearch 

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch focuses on advancing the strongest research out of the laboratory and into clinical trials and development, where better, less-toxic treatments can quickly help children. 

For more information, visit curesearch.org, follow CureSearch on Twitter @curesearch or join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/curesearch. 

The post People of Compassion Can Change the Trajectory of Children’s Cancer – A CureSearch Volunteer’s Perspective appeared first on CureSearch for Children's Cancer.

On a quest for better health, Paul “PK” Klenowski promised himself that he would walk or hike at least one mile every day, no matter what. That was 10 years and 17,000 miles ago, and he hasn’t missed a single day. Most importantly, Klenowski’s fitness journey has evolved into something much greater – a mission to end children’s cancer. 

His inspiration came when he met the daughter of a family friend, a little girl named Riley who was stoically battling leukemia. “I saw the effects of the chemo on her body. Her head was bald and she had a feeding tube, yet she didn’t complain. I knew then that I wanted to hike in honor of Riley,” PK shared. 

As luck would have it, PK saw a poster for the CureSearch Ultimate Hike at a local REI store in 2018. The criminologist and college professor vetted CureSearch and then committed to the hike.  

“There were just five weeks left before the hike and I had never asked anyone for money before. I started sending text messages and making phone calls. I was overwhelmed that so many people offered prayers and asked how else they could help. My goal was to raise $2,500, which seemed like a stretch at the time, but I ended up raising $5,000!” said PK. When he saw Riley’s photo displayed at the 19 mile-mark of the hike, PK knew his Ultimate Hike adventure was just beginning. In addition to participating in the 2021 Shenandoah Ultimate Hike in May, PK is taking on an exciting new challenge this year.  On March 12, in Riley’s honor, he will take on the Conquer the Wall Endurance Challenge, a 100-mile run in 35 hours. His goal is to raise at least $10,000 for CureSearch.  

The funds raised through these hikes directly support critical research that’s on the path to quickly becoming a drug accessible to the children who are waiting for new treatment options, and provides innovative platforms that allow stakeholders to work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively. “It’s research that will bring us innovative, new types of treatments that are less harmful and less invasive. The ultimate goal is to find the cures. I was very disturbed when I learned the statistics of how little we do as a nation for pediatric cancer. That’s why raising money for CureSearch is so important,” said PK.

“Thankfully, Riley is a teenager in remission now, but she is dealing with effects from her cancer battle. Through CureSearch events, I have come to know other children with cancer, those who have survived and the families of kids who didn’t make it,” said PK. “At the beginning of each lap that I run in the Endurance Challenge, my nephew will hand me a photo of a child whose life has been impacted by cancer. And I will dedicate that lap to them.”

As an ultra-runner, PK views 35 hours as a small sacrifice to help kids who often suffer for years. “I’m glad that I can do something to fund research for children’s cancer. I do it for the 45 kids diagnosed with cancer every day, their families and the doctors.”  

Supporters can join PK on his fundraising page. You can pledge to sponsor a lap and watch his progress live on the CureSearch Facebook page, beginning 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 12, continuing through Sunday morning. 

About CureSearch 

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch focuses on advancing the strongest research out of the laboratory and into clinical trials and development, where better, less-toxic treatments can quickly help children. 

For more information, visit curesearch.org, follow CureSearch on Twitter @curesearch or join the conversation on Facebook at  facebook.com/curesearch. 

About Ultimate Hike

CureSearch’s Ultimate Hike program gives people the opportunity to tell children’s cancer to “take a hike” by trekking 20-30 miles in one day on some of the country’s most beautiful trails. To date, Ultimate Hikers have raised over $6 Million in support of CureSearch’s mission to end childhood cancer.

The training program ensures participants of all fitness levels will be prepared for their Ultimate Hike adventure. Train with a group in an official training cities, or train from anywhere with online support from a coach and teammates. An Ultimate Hike event weekend includes lodging, food, transportation, trail support … and a life-changing experience. CureSearch staff provide fundraising tools and guidance to ensure you reach your goals and help change the odds for children with cancer. Learn more at ultimatehike.org or join the conversation at facebook.com/ultimatehike

The post An Ultra-Runner’s Quest to End Children’s Cancer appeared first on CureSearch for Children's Cancer.

New year, new hair loss remedy. Coconut oil has long been touted as the healthiest oil around. Natural health gurus have expounded its benefits for mind, body and soul. But did you know that coconut oil is now being presented as a possible hair loss treatment?

The science

While new must-have natural hair loss remedies are ten a penny, this one does have some basis in scientific fact: coconut oil contains a high level of lauric acid – an essential fatty acid that helps to bind proteins in the hair, keeping them strong and preventing breakage.

Now this is starting to sound suspiciously like another treatment that improves the health of your hair. But it can’t prevent hair loss from conditions like androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness).

EXCEPT, another benefit of lauric acid, along with the other essential fatty acids present in coconut oil, is that it has been shown to block the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – the hormone that is responsible for androgenetic alopecia.

How can I use coconut oil to prevent hair loss?

More research really needs to be done into the actual efficacy of coconut oil as a hair loss treatment. MCTs present in the oil have been shown to have an effect on DHT production. But no one has performed a thorough study into the use of coconut oil itself to treat hair loss.

Some experts suggest massaging the oil into the scalp daily, to stimulate the hair follicles and coat them in coconut oil. However, it seems just as likely that including coconut oil in your diet would be beneficial in blocking DHT production. Perhaps try using it in the place your usual cooking oil.

What if my hair loss is too advanced?

While coconut oil does seem to hold some promise as a preventative measure for hair loss treatment, if you are already experiencing severe hair loss, it is unlikely to do much to reverse the problem.

Before any hair loss problem can be treated effectively, it is important to identify the root cause. Whilst the majority of hair loss issues in the UK are related to male or female pattern baldness, there are other conditions that can lead to hair loss, including:

• alopecia areata
• telogen effluvium
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other hormonal fluctuations – particularly in women

It is a good idea to rule out any of these conditions before commencing hair loss treatment. The best first step is to book a consultation with a hair loss expert.

An expert can diagnose the cause of your hair loss and present a balanced look at all the treatment options available.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us.

The post Is coconut oil the best hair loss treatment? appeared first on His Hair Clinic.