Foundation News

• Mountain of Hope Campaign
In the summer of 2006, 13 year old mountaineer, Brandon Schupp from London , Ontario , became the youngest person in history to scale the summit of 10,000 foot Good Hope Mountain in British Columbia .  He climbed for 10,000 kids in Canada who are currently battling cancer.   Brandon was recently honoured as a Reader's Digest Canadian Hero of 2006 in the Health category. Read the story here. As Brandon lays his 2007 plans, you can still donate to the Mountain of Hope campaign, click here.

• Scholarship Winners Announced
In 2006, we awarded our highest number of Scholarships ever to young Canadian cancer survivors.  We congratulate them on their achievements and celebrate with each one their second chance at life. To see this year's recipients, click here. While the Foundation is reviewing its Scholarship program for 2007, we are accepting applications for the 2007/2008 school year until June 30, 2007 . For more information, click here.

• Gold Ribbon Golf Classic
On July 9, 2007 , the Foundation is hosting our second annual Gold Ribbon Golf Classic at Angus Glen Golf Course. To download a sponsorship package and for more information, click here

• Parent/Survivor Support Group List Update
The landscape of parent and survivor support groups (PSSGs) is constantly changing. The Foundation is currently engaged in another round of verifying information about PSSGs, as well as checking in regarding their information/communication/program needs. So, if you get a call from Lisa at the Foundation, help her out and make sure we have your latest information.

• Spokeman Tour for Childhood Cancer
In September, 2002, 14 year old Calgarian Tim Harriman was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Faced with 2 ½ years of treatment, which included high dose chemotherapy and radiation and a poor prognosis, Tim questioned the worth of going through such a regimen. The support of family, friends, church, school and community helped Tim find the determination and courage to fight his cancer. The treatments were successful and now he’s giving back!.

During his treatments, Tim had a dream – to cycle from Victoria , BC , to St. John’s , NL. This journey begins in June 2007.  

Objectives:

• To cycle across Canada and show that with determination and support it is possible to achieve a high level of physical fitness after surviving childhood cancer
• To encourage companies, community groups and individuals to make donations to the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada in support of research to help find a cure for all childhood cancers
• To raise awareness of and support for the childhood cancer cause by

1) holding public speaking events at local schools, community service groups and through local and national media outlets;

2) visiting the oncology units at as many of the 17 children’s hospitals across Canada as possible and speaking with patients and their families.

How you can help:

• make a donation now to his fundraising effort
• assist his community-based fundraising efforts along the way
• sponsor the Spokeman Tour for Childhood Cancer

For more information www.spokemantour.com (link)

If you would like to assist in Tim’s project, please contact Mary Lye :

[email protected] or by calling 1-800-363-1062 x19

News Roundup

• April 4 – National Oncology Nurses Day
We celebrate the thousands of nurses in the 17 children’s hospitals across Canada who care for our children.

•Setting up a Web Site for a Child with Cancer
Many families use a web site as a way to keep their family and friends updated on their child's cancer journey. An easy way to do this, at no cost, is through www.caringbridge.org

Shane’s Birthday Wish…you can help make it come true

There’s a little boy in Ottawa hoping for a very special birthday gift this year…He’s 7 year’s old and has been battling leukemia since 2004. He spends his days and nights at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). He loves seeing his name written on a card and would like to beat the world record for the most cards received. His birthday is on May 30. You can send a card to him at:

• Shane Bernier
  C/O KISS FM
  2001 Thurston Dr.
  Ottawa , ON
  K1G 6C9

Or

• Shane Bernier
  P.O. Box 484
  Lancaster , ON
  KOC 1NO

Click here to see his story on the news

http://www.achannel.ca/ottawa/news_39996.aspx

American Brain Tumor Association 2008 Calendar.

If you know a brain tumor patient or survivor, aged 5-18, please invite them to submit a drawing for the 2008 “Happiness is…” Calendar published by the American Brain Tumor Association. Drawings should show what “Happiness is…” to them. Artwork should be in crayon or marker on 8 ½ X 11 paper and mailed unfolded. Include artist’s name, age, address, parent/guardian’s name, phone number and a description of the drawing and/or a statement about the artist (60 word limit). Drawings will be included in the calendar. Send drawings by Friday, March 30    to: Valerie Thompson, American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 S. River Rd. Ste 146 , Des Plaines , IL 60018 USA . Questions – call (847) 827-9910.

Survivors of Childhood Leukemia Faring Well

By Steven Reinberg. Health Day.

More than 90 percent of children who survive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) five years after treatment are still alive 20 years later and leading full, productive lives, a new study finds. However, the long-term affects of treatment, such as new cancers and heart problems, need to be monitored with yearly check-ups, the University of Minnesota researchers say. "Among five-year AML survivors, long-term survival seems to be quite favorable and came out at more than 90 percent," said lead researcher Dr. Daniel Mulrooney, a pediatric oncologist and researcher at the university. The findings are the first comprehensive study to analyze 20 years of follow-up on survivors who were diagnosed and treated for AML as children and young adults. The study was expected to be presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, in Orlando , Fla. One expert thinks the findings show there has been encouraging progress in the treatment of AML. "This is important information because more people with cancer are having their lives extended," said Dr. Marshall Lichtman, executive vice president of research and medical programs at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "The five-year survival of children with AML is approaching 50 percent," he noted. In the future, Lichtman hopes that treatment with newer drugs will reduce the number of later medical problems.

Childhood, Youth Cancer Survival Factors Vary by Race, Follow-Up Care

Press Release from yahoonews.com

Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death among children in the U.S. The numbers of newly diagnosed patients across the major childhood cancers,such as leukemia and lymphoma, continue to escalate. But new research shows that mortality rates are improving and long-term survival rates for childhood cancers are steadily on the rise. Despite these successes in young children, we are still faced with low survival rates and low clinical trial accrual in older adolescents and young adults, particularly in blood disorders such as leukemia and lymphoma. Two studies being presented today at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH(TM)) address the need for more research in evaluating leukemia and lymphoma survivorship among youths of varying ages and races.

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