CancerFree KIDS

Today’s #MemberOfTheDay is CancerFree KIDS, presented by Republic Bank. CancerFree KIDS aims to find gentler, more effective treatments for childhood cancer by investing in innovative, early-stage pediatric cancer research. https://lnkd.in/gbVsbtkF

Congratulations to our 100 Mile Challenge Corporate Competition winners! DBL Law was our top fundraising team and Approach Marketing was our top miles + fundraising per capita team! Both companies will have a 2024 CancerFree KIDS research grant named in their honor. We are so proud to work with not only these two amazing companies but all 73 corporate teams who joined us for an incredible month of impact during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. Thank you to all who got moving to support childhood cancer research!

We had a wonderful time at our Celebration of Courage event on Friday evening! We are proud to announce that we raised an incredible total of $1,000,000, with $618,000 of that total donated to our Fund-A-Grant, where 100% of donations go directly to research! We cannot thank our supporters enough - including all those who attended the dinner, donated, participated in the auction and raffles, sponsored, volunteered or rocked out at the After Party. We are honored each year to celebrate the courage of our Champions on this night and this event truly shows that our community will show up — rain or shine — to join us in our mission to fund childhood cancer research. Thank you! It's not too late to support the Celebration of Courage! 100% of online donations to our Fund-A-Grant go directly to research. https://lnkd.in/g_2QNmmv

CancerFree KIDS is incredibly proud to have supported Dr. Cripe for many years and we look forward to witnessing his continued success at Vironexis. His work embodies our mission: to invest in the very best ideas in research that have the potential to transform the way we treat childhood cancer. Dr. Cripe is turning this potential into reality. Thank you Dr. Cripe for your unwavering commitment to make a difference for kids with cancer. Sending a big congratulations from CancerFree KIDS!

The #100milechallenge Corporate Challenger of the Week is Stephen, who brought his company BDO USA to the challenge this year. He is the team captain and has recruited coworkers from both the Cincinnati and Columbus offices to his team! We asked Stephen why he is participating in the challenge. He shared, "I heard about CFK through my previous employer, fell in love with the fundraising event, and wanted to lead the way with my new employer. My wife was diagnosed with B cell ALL in January 2022 and was treated at CCHMC. When I heard her diagnosis, I wasn’t sure what to think, and I had no clue how good of hands she was going to be in at Cincinnati Children’s. I stayed in the hospital with her for the first 30 days of treatment and saw firsthand the amazing work of Cincinnati Children’s blood cancer team. I met various other families, nurses, and doctors throughout the long two years of treatment and the attention and compassion from the staff was never ending. I was amazed to learn how fast the treatment plans change based on trials and new developments. I know by helping to further CFK’s mission, we are helping to make a positive impact on others in like situations." Thank you Stephen and Team BDO USA for all you are doing to support #cancerfreekids and the 100 Mile Challenge.

Dr. Mary Bedard, leader across all the Cincinnati Children’s subteams, is the Challenger of the Week! Mary is a researcher at Children’s in her ninth year of MD/PhD training towards a surgeon scientist career. She earned her PhD doing research on diseases driven by human papillomavirus (HPV), including a rare childhood cancer. In addition to leading the Children’s team, she is promoting the 100 Mile Challenge in the community as a hike leader with Cincinnati Hikes by hosting a Sunday hiking series. We asked Mary why she joined the 100 Mile Challenge this year: “CancerFree KIDS makes a difference. As a researcher in the Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute at Cincy Children’s, I’ve seen the impact that CFK sparks. I was honored to be awarded a New Idea research grant from CFK in 2019, which was the first funding that I received for a project on a devastating childhood disease called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). With that funding, preliminary data has grown into a massive interdisciplinary, multi-institutional effort. We have discovered that a specific strain of human papillomavirus, HPV11, can be an early indicator of severe disease and risk of malignant cancer. We developed a clinical test that is being incorporated into the standard of care nationwide for children with RRP to improve screening and outcomes. The CFK grant had a domino effect; the data that we were able to collect has led to substantial subsequent funding and follow-up studies. I have seen so many projects at Children’s similarly be given a chance to take off thanks to funding from CancerFree KIDS, and I am excited to help support a future where we can offer improved treatments and better evidence-based clinical care to children with cancer.” Cincinnati Children’s is currently in first place of the Corporate Challenge Competition for fundraising, with over $14,000 raised. Thank you Mary for all you are doing to support CancerFree KIDS and the 100 Mile Challenge.

CancerFree KIDS is incredibly proud to have supported Dr. Cripe for many years and we look forward to witnessing his continued success at Vironexis. His work embodies our mission: to invest in the very best ideas in research that have the potential to transform the way we treat childhood cancer. Dr. Cripe is turning this potential into reality. Thank you Dr. Cripe for your unwavering commitment to make a difference for kids with cancer. Sending a big congratulations from CancerFree KIDS!

Thank you HUB International for leading the way and helping to fuel our mission of finding gentler and more effective treatments for children with cancer!

Join us this Sunday September 15th as we team up with Nexigen and David Whelan for a 100 Mile Challenge Mid Month Motivation Meet Up on the Loveland Bike Trail and Ramsey's Trailside! Details and RSVP at https://lnkd.in/ggZQc6Jp   Hear from David about his incredible journey as an adaptive athlete and battle with chronic pain after he lost his leg in an accident and the impact CancerFree KIDS is making for children battling cancer. Through our efforts, we will also honor Eli Simpson, a cancer warrior who fiercely battled but sadly lost his life to cancer, who was an incredible example of courage and perserverance throughout his fight.    1:30pm - Experienced Cyclist Ride - 30 Miles 2:00pm - Recreational Ride (No Drop) - 15 miles 3:30pm - Meet Up @ Ramsey's Trailside - Light bites, informal programing and cash bar. All are welcome even if not participating in the ride!

Way to go Integrity Express Logistics for hosting a great kickoff for the CancerFree KIDS 100 Mile Challenge!! On behalf of all the children and families we serve, thank you for your incredible leadership and support to childhood cancer awareness!