Brave Barbie doll provides a friend through treatment for kids with cancer
Bethesda, Md. – October 23, 2023 – CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and Mattel are celebrating 10 years of Brave Barbie – a special Barbie created to bring hope and comfort to courageous young patients battling illness or receiving treatments that cause hair loss.
To help kids better understand and cope with hair loss, CureSearch and Mattel partnered to develop and distribute a Barbie that represents the young fighters undergoing cancer treatment.
“Brave Barbie is given to children that are going through difficult cancer treatments so that they can see themselves and feel comforted that they’re not going through this alone,” said Nancy Molenda, Executive Director of Mattel Children’s Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy.
CureSearch is a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every child diagnosed with cancer has a safe and effective treatment option and funds research with the greatest potential to reach clinical trials.
“When children go through cancer treatments, the toxicity from their treatment causes lifelong side effects,” said Kay Koehler, President and CEO of CureSearch. “They can become blind or deaf, and there’s always a risk of secondary cancer or heart failure just as they’re graduating from high school, or beginning to start their new life.”
Brave Barbies have been donated to more than 200 hospitals across the country, with over 100,000 donated, free of charge, directly to children impacted by cancer.
“When Chloe got her doll in the mail, there was a moment of joy when she saw that the doll looked like her,” said Krystle Kincade-Crean, whose daughter Chloe was diagnosed with leukemia in 2022. “I’m really happy that Brave Barbie can show Chloe that bald is beautiful and hair doesn’t define her.”
Brave Barbies can be requested for free in the United States: curesearch.org/brave-barbie.
WATCH: Leaders from CureSearch and Mattel, and childhood cancer advocates discuss the impact of Brave Barbie
About CureSearch: For more than 35 years, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer has been a driving force in pediatric cancer research, working to ensure that every child diagnosed with cancer has a safe and effective treatment option. Our unique funding model is laser focused on accelerating the development of new therapies in areas of high unmet need; we only fund translational research projects with the strongest potential to become a new treatment and quickly reach patients. Together, we save lives faster. To learn more visit curesearch.org.
About Mattel: Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain, and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO®, and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming and digital experiences, music, and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us online at mattel.com.