CancerFree KIDS, a trailblazing nonprofit dedicated to funding early-stage pediatric cancer research, is expanding its presence in Columbus by appointing Melissa Jackson as its first-ever Columbus director, rolling out events that local donors and community members can get involved in, and elevating the impact it can make for researchers at organizations such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
CancerFree KIDS started in 2002 in Cincinnati to fund innovative research with the goal of finding more effective and gentler treatments for childhood cancer – and ultimately, making it no longer a life-threatening illness for children. Since 2009, CancerFree KIDS has awarded significant research grants to both Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
“We're proud to be the leading source of funding for early pediatric cancer research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, having invested $3,250,000 over the last 15 years," said Jill Brinck, executive director of CancerFree KIDS based in Cincinnati. “With the continued growth in research opportunities and funding in the Columbus market, CancerFree KIDS is thrilled to expand its presence in central Ohio with Melissa Jackson at the helm as our new Columbus-based director.”
Jackson has experience in public health and non-profit management, previously serving in leadership roles at the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer, Ohio Department of Health, Feel Better Foundation, and Feel Better Mom. As the CancerFree KIDS Columbus Director, Jackson is overseeing the Columbus expansion and is organizing fundraising initiatives and events in the community.
"I am honored to step into this role where I can make incredible contributions to a meaningful and personal cause," said Jackson, who is also the mother of a pediatric cancer survivor. “I look forward to increasing CancerFree KIDS’ presence in the Columbus community so that together, we can make greater strides toward a future where no child has to face the devastating impact of cancer."
OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THE CANCERFREE KIDS COLUMBUS MISSION
CancerFree KIDS knows that community support is crucial in the research needed to end childhood cancer. It hosts fundraising events all year to raise money for innovative research projects designed to find gentler, more effective treatments for kids battling cancer. Now these events are coming to Columbus.
The CancerFree KIDS 100 Mile Challenge, presented by Chard Snyder, is a 30-day fitness and fundraising challenge in September to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
- Participants are invited to Conquer the Challenge by completing 100 miles in September and raising $100 for CancerFree KIDS to fund life-saving childhood cancer research.
- Participants can join as an individual, create a Community Team, or create a team with co-workers to take part in the Corporate Competition.
- The winning teams will even have a 2024 CancerFree KIDS research grant named in their honor.
- Watch this overview of the 100 Mile Challenge to get a first look at this year's swag, awards and incentives; and review fundraising, corporate team resources and sponsorship opportunities.
The Celebration of Courage will be an unforgettable evening at the Columbus Crew Lower.com Stadium.
- The event will take place early 2025 and a date will be announced soon.
- With a theme of “Back to Childhood,” guests are invited to relive the best parts of their childhood while helping in the organization’s mission to give children a cancer-free childhood. It will be an evening filled with “old school” music, decadent “junk” food, an over-the-top retro candy buffet, era-themed cocktails, costume contests, raffles and more.
- Registration will open in the fall.
- CancerFree KIDS is still accepting sponsors, and interested parties can contact Jackson at melissa@cancerfreekids.org to learn more.
CANCERFREE KIDS’ GAME-CHANGING IMPACT
In the United States, 1 in 260 children will be diagnosed with cancer by their 20th birthday. In the state of Ohio alone, more than 500 children are diagnosed each year. The mission of CancerFree KIDS is to eradicate cancer as a life-threatening disease in children by funding promising research that might otherwise go unfunded. Its investments provide seed funding for innovative, high-risk/high-reward early-stage research – allowing scientists to prove their concept, secure additional funding, find new treatment therapies, and eventually end childhood cancer.
CancerFree KIDS recently announced the largest investment in pediatric cancer research grants in its 20-year history, further funding innovative pediatric cancer research in the state of Ohio. CancerFree KIDS will invest $1.25 million this year to fund 21 research grants at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. This brings CancerFree KIDS' total grant investment to $9.45 million, funding 215 research projects since its inception in 2002. These research investments have received more than $114 million to date in follow-on funding to continue studies dedicated to finding better treatments for pediatric cancer. CancerFree KIDS researchers earn this follow-on funding as a result of their promising findings from CancerFree KIDS-funded research. It shows a 1,200% return on the organization’s initial research funding.
“Childhood cancer is something that we need to do a better job of funding as a society. That means developing new therapies, testing and launching new clinical trials, establishing new diagnostic tests, running the whole gamut and getting things back to patients,” said Dr. Timothy Cripe, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Board Medical Advisor at CancerFree KIDS. “This is a well-run organization that funnels money onto the most promising projects at the earliest stages that might otherwise not get off the ground.”
CancerFree KIDS-funded projects have also been the basis for its researchers to publish 296 scientific publications, earn 57 patents, conduct 21 clinical trials, create four companies and develop two FDA-approved drugs.
To learn more about CancerFree KIDS, the pediatric research they support, and how to get involved, visit cancerfreekids.org.
