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,...
What Is a Lumbar Puncture? What is a Spinal Tap?
It’s scary enough to have your child diagnosed with cancer. But on top of that you hear all these new words and terms, which can be overwhelming, such as lumbar puncture or spinal tap. A lumbar procedure is the same thing as a spinal tap. It is a commonly performed procedure to diagnose and manage a variety of diseases including cancer. It is an invasive procedure used to collect the cerebral fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. A lumbar puncture/spinal tap may also be done to measure the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid or to inject medicine, including chemotherapy, directly into the spinal cord and central nervous system. To prepare your child for a lumbar puncture/spinal tap, tell your child what to expect in the hospital and during the procedure. Ask your child’s healthcare team if you can stay with your child during the procedure, and if it’s OK to bring a...
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 is Chemotherapy?
You just found out that your child has cancer. And that chemotherapy is part of the treatment plan. Most everyone has heard of chemotherapy. But what is it really? Chemotherapy is any drug used to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is designed to either kill cells or stop them from dividing. Is there just one chemotherapy? There are many different types of chemotherapy because different chemotherapies treat different types of cancer. Sometimes your child may receive several different types of chemotherapies. How is chemotherapy given to my child? Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, or by infusion—either an IV or through your child’s port. Or a combination of those. Sometimes it is given topical (on the skin). It depends on the type and stage of the cancer that is being treated. Where and how often is chemotherapy given? Chemotherapy may be given during a...
What is Radiation?
Radiation therapy is targeted energy used to destroy cancer cells, shrink tumors and/or alleviate certain cancer-related symptoms. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays and other forms of radiation therapy to damage the DNA in cancer cells, killing them or depriving them of their ability to grow or divide. Radiation can be used in several ways: Primary treatment to destroy cancer cells In combination with other treatments to stop the growth of cancer cells Before another treatment to shrink a tumor After another treatment to stop the growth of any remaining cancer cells To relieve symptoms of advanced cancer Radiation therapy does not kill cancer cells immediately. It works for several days and weeks, and during the course of treatment, hopefully damaging the DNA in cancer cells so that they die or are no longer able to reproduce. Radiation therapy is one of the most common cancer...
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...
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...
What Is a Lumbar Puncture? What is a Spinal Tap?
It’s scary enough to have your child diagnosed with cancer. But on top of that you hear all these new words and terms, which can be overwhelming, such as lumbar puncture or spinal tap. A lumbar procedure is the same thing as a spinal tap. It is a commonly performed procedure to diagnose and manage a variety of diseases including cancer. It is an invasive procedure used to collect the cerebral fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. A lumbar puncture/spinal tap may also be done to...
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 is Chemotherapy?
You just found out that your child has cancer. And that chemotherapy is part of the treatment plan. Most everyone has heard of chemotherapy. But what is it really? Chemotherapy is any drug used to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is designed to either kill cells or stop them from dividing. Is there just one chemotherapy? There are many different types of chemotherapy because different chemotherapies treat different types of cancer. Sometimes your child may receive several...
What is Radiation?
Radiation therapy is targeted energy used to destroy cancer cells, shrink tumors and/or alleviate certain cancer-related symptoms. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays and other forms of radiation therapy to damage the DNA in cancer cells, killing them or depriving them of their ability to grow or divide. Radiation can be used in several ways: Primary treatment to destroy cancer cells In combination with other treatments to stop the growth of cancer cells Before another treatment to...
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...