Camp Norden has a successful second year

This year’s Camp Norden was nothing less than magical. Whether campers gathered in-person in Crosslake, MN or through a virtual experience led by the inspiring and creative James Orrigo, all experienced new adventures and connections over five days this past August. Childhood cancer fighters and survivors aged 8-17 were invited at no cost to participate in classic camp experiences and high-tech virtual reality sessions to foster a community of acceptance and creativity all thanks to our amazing sponsors and volunteers.

CCRF introduces new research grant focused on cancer survivorship 

Children’s Cancer Research Fund has introduced a new grant, the Healthy After Cancer: Childhood Cancer Survivorship Research Award, which funds critical research that will lessen the impact of treatment and late-effects on childhood cancer survivors and ensures they have the information and care needed to live long, healthy lives after cancer. 2021 Survivorship Award Grantees Katie Greenzang, MD: Dana Farber Cancer Institute – eHealth Intervention …

Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund Tops $3 Million

“I want to be remembered as the kid who went down fighting and didn’t really lose.” Zach Sobiech  The Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund, which funds groundbreaking osteosarcoma research nationwide through Children’s Cancer Research Fund, recently topped $3 million.   Before Zach passed away from osteosarcoma in 2013, he started the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund, in the hopes that his legacy would make cancer treatment safer …

CCRF Announces new members joining Board of Directors and Research Advisory Committee 

CCRF is pleased to announce additions to the organization’s board of directors, board leadership and scientific advisors. John Golden, President of Crux Collaborative, Inc., is now serving as Vice Chair. He joins the board leadership team, which includes Susan Doherty, Chair, Dan Bartholet, Treasurer, Matt Hedman, Secretary, and Michelle “MJ” Johnson, Immediate Past Chair. The CCRF board also welcomes Abbie Miller, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President at PreferredOne, who has joined as a new board member.

2021 Hard-to-Treat Award Winners

The Hard-To-Tread Award is a grant intended to support projects that enable the prevention, early detection and effective treatment of pediatric cancers that remain hard-to-treat. While treatment success has improved for many cancers, survival rates and therapy options have not changed for some cancers, including brain tumors, sarcomas, and acute myeloid leukemia. Each award is $250,000 over a period of 24 months.   Each year, CCRF …

DIY Fundraising Highlight – Dr. Alpay Temiz

Dr. Alpay Temiz earned a PhD in Philosophy, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2008. For the past 9 years, Temiz has worked at the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center where he conducts research focused on osteosarcoma, NF1 syndrome and MPNST. Dr. Temiz worked very closely with a young man named Bryant Keller. Keller was a new …

Punch Pizza’s Impact on Childhood Cancer Research

Punch Pizza has partnered with CCRF since 2009 and contributed over $252,000. These funds directly support some of the most promising minds in childhood cancer research. We want to say thank you and share progress updates on the important work of the researchers who have been supported by the Spirit of Punch Award.   2018: Dr. Branden Moriarity Branden Moriarity, PhD, University of Minnesota Since Punch Pizza funded Dr. Branden Moriarity in 2018, his lab has been working on studying …

Dream Further Campaign hits $2 million for cancer survivorship research and care

When childhood cancer survivor Ted Sibley finished his cancer treatment as a teenager, he received a t-shirt that said, “Finish Line.” He was proud to have reached the end of a long and difficult period of treatment – but his journey didn’t end there. Ted faced late-effects from his cancer treatment, and often didn’t know where to go to get specialized survivorship care.

In early 2021, CCRF launched the Dream Further campaign to raise $2 million for much-needed survivorship research and care coordination. In November 2021, with the help of a passionate community of supporters, the Dream Further campaign reached its ambitious goal.

Celebrating the naming of the Katie Hageboeck Children’s Cancer Research Fund Clinic

On Wednesday, October 13, longtime members of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund community gathered to celebrate the dedication of the Katie Hageboeck Children’s Cancer Research Fund Clinic. The newly named clinic at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital honors the memory of 13-year-old Katie Hageboeck of Wayzata, Minnesota who requested that her savings for a new 10-speed bike be used to help kids with cancer. The Pediatric Specialty Care Journey Clinic at the Masonic Children’s Hospital, which provides world-class care to children and families facing childhood cancer, will now be called the Katie Hageboeck Children’s Cancer Research Fund Clinic. 

Zebra Technologies and Great Cycle Challenge

CCRF’s partner, Zebra Technologies, helped month-long cycling event Great Cycle Challenge engage thousands of cyclists and raise millions of dollars during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. To date, the Zebra team of 453 riders has raised $190,579 over five years.

8 new scientists will kickstart their projects thanks to CCRF

Many great ideas go unexplored in the childhood cancer world due to a lack of funding. Thanks to donors like you, eight new projects are poised to kickstart in just a few weeks.

Each year, Children’s Cancer Research Fund grants young, highly qualified researchers with $100,000 to help set up their labs and launch their careers. Fewer and fewer scientists are choosing to embark on academic research, so it is more important than ever to invest in this generation of scientists today.

Minnesota couple’s $925,000 gift funds leading edge cancer technology at the University of Minnesota

Above: Fritz and Glenda Corrigan, pictured with their children and grandchildren. In April 2021, staff at the University of Minnesota finished installing a piece of equipment called the Helios mass cytometer – a machine that will enable cancer researchers to glean more information from cells than has ever been available to them before.   John Wagner, MD, Founding Director of the Institute of Cell, Gene …

CCRF uses impact investments to accelerate new treatments

For researchers, it’s known as “the valley of death.” It’s the often-unfunded middle territory between the early part of research, when new ideas are blossoming in the lab, and the end stage years later, when a company is finally ready to bring a new treatment to the marketplace.Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) is stepping into the gap with impact investments to help biotechnology companies translate early discoveries into effective treatments for childhood cancer. CCRF recently announced impact investments in OS Therapies and Oncoheroes Biosciences.

CCRF Honors the 2020 Butterfly Award Winners

Each year, Children’s Cancer Research Fund presents Butterfly Awards to individuals, organizations and teams that have contributed significant time and resources to ending childhood cancer. These are the people who make the pursuit of our mission possible. Jon and Jill Halper – Volunteers Jon Halper’s sister, Jobi, survived osteosarcoma as a child. Inspired by his sister’s cancer journey, Jon has dedicated himself to CCRF as …

CCRF announces $10.5 million in new grants

Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) is proud to award $10.5 million in its latest round of funding. The new grants support 12 research organizations that are working to improve treatment and outcomes for children and adolescents with cancer.

How a small team of livestreamers raised over $12,000 for childhood cancer research

Eleven livestreamers teamed up and raised $12,399 in just five days for their World Cancer Day campaign. We talked to three of these livestreamers about how they use their platforms to entertain, educate and fundraise for good. When COVID-19 made it much less possible for Jarek Mueller, Stephanie Kelter and Katie Arcand to meet with friends in-person, they took their hobbies online. Jarek started streaming …

Sheila McGuire Saklad – Celebrating a Legacy

Opportunities, achievements, memories and milestones – these are what Sheila and Dan Saklad always wanted to give children, and what has motivated them to support the brightest minds in pediatric cancer research for nearly three decades. The Saklad family firmly believes that investment in nationally renowned researchers at the University of Minnesota will lead to better treatments – and ultimately a cure – for cancer. …

Our Focus During COVID-19

Our world looks much different than it did just a few weeks ago – since COVID-19 became a pandemic, daily routines have been upended. This crisis particularly impacts those who are fighting childhood cancer, whose immune systems are weakened by their treatments. We’re continuing to focus on the research and support programs that cancer families need now and in the future. We’re so grateful for …