Volunteer, mother of childhood cancer survivor to host Northern Colorado CureSearch Walk
CureSearch funds next-generation childhood cancer research, and that wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated volunteers who work every day to fundraise and bring awareness to the urgent need for new treatments for the kids who need them most.
In 2018, Kathleen Sullivan and her family’s world turned upside down. Her 17-year-old daughter, Sherilyn, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood that starts in the bone marrow and spreads to the bloodstream. Kathleen had to watch her healthy, energetic child endure toxic treatments to save her life.
Although childhood cancer is considered a rare disease, it’s the most common cause of death by disease in children.
“During my daughter’s treatment, we learned that she was 1 of 5 seniors in her class diagnosed with cancer that year,” said Kathleen. “ONE OF FIVE. Childhood cancer was feeling less and less rare.”
While Sherilyn had a significant chance of survival, that’s not the case for many children with less common and more aggressive tumor types.
“The need in Northern Colorado to bring awareness and funding for research was increasingly apparent,” said Kathleen. “I have met too many families who have angel children instead of survivors and I still couldn’t shake my grief for those who still do not have options.”
Our CureSearch Walks are annual events where supporters, advocates and survivors come together to honor and remember those affected by childhood cancer, and raise funds for next-generation research. In addition to CureSearch-hosted walks, supporters also have the opportunity to organize walks in their own communities.
Kathleen and her family are hosting the Northern Colorado CureSearch Walk on September 24 in Loveland, CO. They’re hoping to raise $10,000 for childhood cancer research.
“If we can find options for children with leukemia, there are options for all the other subtypes of childhood cancer,” said Kathleen. “But it will take awareness, funding and research. I want people to come walk for the fighters, celebrate our survivors and remember our angels.”
Click here to join a team or donate to the Northern Colorado CureSearch Walk.
Interested in participating in a CureSearch Walk this year? Visit our website to sign up for a Walk near you, organize your own local event, or participate in My CureSearch Walk. Formerly the National CureSearch Walk, My CureSearch Walk allows you to walk anywhere, anytime during the month of September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. http://www.curesearchwalk.org/.