Cancer Community Joins Together for Advocacy Day
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer joined forces with the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers, Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy, Kids v Cancer, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to host the annual Children’s Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on March 17, 2011.
The two-day event commenced with a presentation from NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd, who provided an insider’s perspective and overview of the health care policy environment in Washington, DC. Following Todd, CureSearch President and CEO John Lehr highlighted recent activities in the children’s cancer community. Chairman of the Children’s Oncology Group, Peter Adamson, MD, then spoke about
the impact proposed federal cuts would have on clinical trials for children’s cancer.
The following day, hope and determination filled the hallways of congressional buildings on Capitol Hill as more than 200 advocates from as far as California asked their members of Congress to help fight children’s cancer. More than 180 visits were made to House and Senate offices from 28 states.
Prior to meetings with their state members, participants attended a Congressional kick-off. Reverend Daniel Coughlin, the House Chaplain, led an invocation offering words of encouragement while 12-year-old Jack Rolle (pictured below), a brain cancer survivor, shared his struggles with the disease. Congressmen Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), founders and co-chairs of the Pediatric Cancer Caucus, also spoke to the advocates. Attendees were pleased to learn that Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) would introduce the Creating Hope Act, a bipartisan bill that would give pharmaceutical companies an incentive to develop treatments for rare diseases, including children’s cancer.
Children’s Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Day resulted in increased membership of the House Congressional Pediatric Cancer Caucus, heightened bipartisan interest for the Creating Hope Act, and renewed interest in signing on to the Childhood Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act, all while elevating the bipartisan concern for maintaining current funding levels for the National Cancer Institute for children’s cancer research.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) meets with constituent and children’s cancer advocate Amy Pankratz and daughter, Isabella.
Photo by: Cerissa Photography
Greg Norman (top row right) poses for a photo at the Shark Shootout Family day with fellow pro-golfers and children participating in the event.
2011 ANNUAL REPORT 5
The Shark Shootout
The Shark Shootout, created and hosted by Greg Norman, is an annual PGA TOUR sanctioned event that raises funds for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. This year’s event was held at Tiburón Golf Club, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, in Naples, FL. The field consisted of 24 professionals paired into 12, two-person teams. Widely regarded as the PGA TOUR’s premier post-season event, the Shark Shootout features a modified alternate-shot format during the first round, a better ball Saturday, and a final-round scramble. This year, the Golf Channel televised Friday and NBC broadcasted the weekend competition. The Shark Shootout is conducted and managed by the Greg Norman Production Company and has benefitted CureSearch since 1988.
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