What a Difference a Decade Makes
May of 2013 brought the last dose of chemo for my daughter, Danielle. Back then it was hard to see or even think about what life would be like ten years down the road. Honestly, I wouldn’t even allow myself to look that far ahead. Danielle was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January of 2011. When the genetic testing came back on her leukemia about a month after diagnosis, it was not good news. She had all the bad markers and none of the good ones. I chose to focus on the fact that, one month in, she was responding well to treatment and was technically in remission. We just kept marching on. But it never left my mind that this unfavorable genetic news was lurking in the background. Her treatment had five phases with names…induction, consolidation, interim maintenance, delayed intensification and maintenance. As I lived in this world and watched other families...
Brain Tumor Network Guides Patients and Empowers Care
A few months ago, Rally Mom Tiffany shared with Rally Foundation the outstanding support their family has been receiving from the Brain Tumor Network (BTN) for her son and Rally Kid, Logan: “BTN has been a wonderful resource for our family. They are responsive, knowledgeable and compassionate.” BTN is the largest brain tumor patient support organization of its kind in the U.S. Since 2014, BTN has provided free navigation services to almost 2,000 patients. BTN pediatric brain tumor navigation program provides age-appropriate services for families with children under the age of 18 whose primary diagnosis is a brain tumor. BTN partners with care teams to meet each individual patient’s goal of care. How BTN Helps Led by Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Nurse Navigator Jenna Tozzi, BA, RN, BTN’s pediatric services include: diagnosis and treatment options education, treatment center identification,...
Rally Awards Most Grants Ever
Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research Awards $4 Million in 2023 In 2023, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (“Rally”) will award a total of $4 million to 57 researchers across 30 institutions worldwide – the largest number of childhood cancer research grants ever to be distributed since Rally was founded in 2005. “This brings the total amount of research funds that Rally has awarded to $29.4 million – and it is the highest amount we have been able to award in one year,” says Dean Crowe, Founder and CEO. “In 2022, we were delighted by the significant increase in funds raised thanks to our grassroot supporters, special events and incredibly generous corporate donors. Our mission speaks to all: to fund the best research wherever it may be to help find better childhood cancer treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures.” Rally grants are awarded...
Rally Career Development Research Grant Award Update
An Update on the $300,000 Rally Career Development Award to Dr. Rodriguez-Blanco for Medulloblastoma Research In December 2022, Rally Foundation’s COO Reid Crowe presented a $300,000 Career Development Research Grant to Dr. Jezabel Rodriguez-Blanco, Ph.D. at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Her research is focused on medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor, with the goal of finding new novel therapeutics for this underserved group of patients. We sat down with Dr. Rodriguez-Blanco to see how her research was progressing. Excerpts of our interview with this brilliant childhood cancer researcher are below: What does it mean to your career to win the Rally Career Development Grant with the goal of expediting your research to obtain federal funding? The career development award I got from Rally was my first grant as an independent investigator. Early on,...
Quick and Simple Fundraising Ideas
We are delighted that you are interested in fundraising ideas to help raise funds for kids fighting the cancer beast! Here are some great FUN(d)raising ideas for your business, elementary, middle or high school class, family group, scout troop, retail store, restaurant, church group or professional organization. Social Media: Set up a Facebook fundraiser for your birthday or anniversary, or in honor or memory of a loved one. Follow Rally on all our social channels: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Group Activities: Participate in the #RallyFit 47 Challenge. Host a 5K Run/Walk, Talent Show, Dance-A-Thon or Cycle Ride. Have fun at a Grown-Up Field Day, Pickleball or Cornhole or Tennis. Tournament Rally 4 Quarters 4 Research – Set a goal and collect loose change. Schools, scout troops and youth groups love this one. Professional or Community Organizations: Organize a Craft/Art Fair like...
What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2
Did your family receive a new diagnosis of ALL? We know that sometimes the best people to talk to during moments such as these are those that have been through it themselves. Here at Rally we talked extensively with three ALL mothers who are in the unique position to offer their personal advice and observations during this journey. This is Part II of the wisdom and practical advice from Rally Moms Amy, Brigitte, and Nour. About Your Marriage / Relationship: Brigette: Consider marriage counseling even if you are in a good place in your marriage. Treatment has a way of dividing marriages many times before you realize it. Amy: If you are married, protect your marriage. Our experience was that of becoming roommates who rarely saw each other, were always tired, were always stressed, and were not able to have conversations beyond treatment decisions, dealing with siblings, and the very...
What a Difference a Decade Makes
May of 2013 brought the last dose of chemo for my daughter, Danielle. Back then it was hard to see or even think about what life would be like ten years down the road. Honestly, I wouldn’t even allow myself to look that far ahead. Danielle was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January of 2011. When the genetic testing came back on her leukemia about a month after diagnosis, it was not good news. She had all the bad markers and none of the good ones. I chose to focus on...
Brain Tumor Network Guides Patients and Empowers Care
A few months ago, Rally Mom Tiffany shared with Rally Foundation the outstanding support their family has been receiving from the Brain Tumor Network (BTN) for her son and Rally Kid, Logan: “BTN has been a wonderful resource for our family. They are responsive, knowledgeable and compassionate.” BTN is the largest brain tumor patient support organization of its kind in the U.S. Since 2014, BTN has provided free navigation services to almost 2,000 patients. BTN pediatric brain tumor navigation...
Rally Awards Most Grants Ever
Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research Awards $4 Million in 2023 In 2023, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (“Rally”) will award a total of $4 million to 57 researchers across 30 institutions worldwide – the largest number of childhood cancer research grants ever to be distributed since Rally was founded in 2005. “This brings the total amount of research funds that Rally has awarded to $29.4 million – and it is the highest amount we have been able to award in one year,”...
Rally Career Development Research Grant Award Update
An Update on the $300,000 Rally Career Development Award to Dr. Rodriguez-Blanco for Medulloblastoma Research In December 2022, Rally Foundation’s COO Reid Crowe presented a $300,000 Career Development Research Grant to Dr. Jezabel Rodriguez-Blanco, Ph.D. at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Her research is focused on medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor, with the goal of finding new novel therapeutics for this underserved group of patients. We sat down with...
Quick and Simple Fundraising Ideas
We are delighted that you are interested in fundraising ideas to help raise funds for kids fighting the cancer beast! Here are some great FUN(d)raising ideas for your business, elementary, middle or high school class, family group, scout troop, retail store, restaurant, church group or professional organization. Social Media: Set up a Facebook fundraiser for your birthday or anniversary, or in honor or memory of a loved one. Follow Rally on all our social channels: Facebook, Instagram and...
What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2
Did your family receive a new diagnosis of ALL? We know that sometimes the best people to talk to during moments such as these are those that have been through it themselves. Here at Rally we talked extensively with three ALL mothers who are in the unique position to offer their personal advice and observations during this journey. This is Part II of the wisdom and practical advice from Rally Moms Amy, Brigitte, and Nour. About Your Marriage / Relationship: Brigette: Consider marriage...