A blog about children’s cancer survivors, fighters and supporters,
and the cancer research that accelerates the search for cures.
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 …
The “Lucky” One: Surviving Childhood Cancer, Stroke and the Effects of Treatment Read More »
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 …
Pediatric Oncologist Treks The Pacific Crest Trail To Honor Sister’s Memory Read More »
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 …
“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 …
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 …
An Ultra-Runner’s Quest to End Children’s Cancer Read More »
This year, we were proud to award new research grants supporting truly cutting-edge projects. We also know that smarter research funding is just one part of the solution, and that long-term impact will require strategic collaboration among all members of the pediatric cancer ecosystem: academia, pharma, regulatory agencies, funders, and the patient community. With the expert …
With your support, we’re bringing our kids to the forefront of drug development Read More »
By Caitlyn Barrett, PhD – CureSearch National Director of Research & Programs At CureSearch, we’re focused on driving the most innovative new therapies towards clinical trials where they’ll directly impact children in treatment today. Simply put, if a project can’t reach the clinic in an accelerated timeframe, we don’t fund it. Our strategy is unique, and …
Delivering measurable results in the form of new treatment options for children today Read More »
Ryan is currently a 5-year-old boy undergoing treatment for diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT) at the University of Virginia (UVA). Diagnosed in March of 2019, Ryan’s family has traveled to various hospitals in hopes of a treatment to cure him, but unfortunately, there is not a cure for DLGNT this time. Ryan is only the …
High school sophomore raises $6,000 for children’s cancer research through the Virtual Baxter Trails CureSearch Hike, founded by Harlan’s Heroes When Elyse Johnson, a sophomore at Charlotte Country Day School, learned that a family friend, Margaux, had been diagnosed with childhood cancer, specifically stage 4 Wilm’s tumor, she knew she wanted to do something to …
Teenager raises $6000 for CureSearch through hiking and artistry Read More »
When her daughter Kaitlyn was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), Stacey Jenkins was told that the cancer was likely to take her life within six to ten months. She learned that this deadly cancer attacks the area of the brain that controls essential functions—breathing, chewing, swallowing, hearing, taste and balance—and surgery was not an option. In December 2010, Stacey and her family entered this terrifying new world, and …
