Tuesday, January 30, 2007
St. Baldrick’s Foundation announces $50,000 grant to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital for Childhood Cancer Research
PENSACOLA, FL – Children with cancer in Florida received a helping hand today from those who were brave enough to go bald. As part of its ongoing campaign to Conquer Kids’ Cancer, the St. Baldrick's Foundation has announced a $50,000 grant to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital to maintain their excellent childhood cancer program. The grant will be used to fund the new position of a clinical research coordinator for the pediatric cancer research program at Sacred Heart.
St. Baldrick’s began as a challenge among friends and has grown into the world’s largest fundraising event for childhood cancer. Because treatment typically given to youngsters causes their hair to fall out, volunteers are recruited to have their heads shaved in public in return for pledges of financial support. Participants find that shaving their head is a small sacrifice in comparison to what these children endure and want to raise money to help find a cure for children with cancer now and in the future.
“The people of Florida have shown a deep commitment to our Foundation and childhood cancer research,” said Kathleen Ruddy, Executive Director for The St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “We’re proud to honor the groundbreaking work of Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital by supporting their efforts with this grant.” Volunteer organizers are already working on events throughout Florida including Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Lake Worth and Ocala. The first event in Pensacola is being held at the Flora-Bama on March 17, 2007.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation research grants help fill crucial funding gaps at medical institutions nationwide where children are treated for cancer. In 2006, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation granted over $4 million to a network of 230 institutions that work together to develop the most advanced treatment techniques. The Foundation also granted more than $1 million to other hospitals for research fellowships and projects to cure childhood cancer.
ABOUT THE ST. BALDRICK’S FOUNDATION
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises money for childhood cancer research primarily through head-shaving events. The mission of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is to raise awareness and funds to cure kids’ cancer by supporting cancer research and fellowships. The foundation is an independent, IRS approved, 501(c)(3) organization, Federal ID # 20-1173824. For a listing of St. Baldrick’s events near you and for more information, please visit www.StBaldricks.org or call 888-889-BALD.
ABOUT SACRED HEART CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
As the only children’s hospital in Northwest Florida, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital has taken care of sick and injured babies and children for over 37 years – regardless of their ability to pay. For more information on children’s services at Sacred Heart, please cal (850) 416-7000 or visit ww.sacred-heart.org.
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