In this heartfelt episode, Penji’s Partnership coordinator, Daniela talks to Kristin Connor from CURE childhood cancer to discuss her personal journey as a mother of a childhood cancer survivor, highlighting the critical need for specialized research and compassionate family care. Learn about the unique challenges children with cancer face and the hope for better, less toxic treatments.
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1. Personal Motivation and Professional Advocacy for Children with Cancer: Kristin Connor, CEO of CURE Childhood Cancer, was driven to this work after her own son was diagnosed with cancer as a newborn. She leverages her background as a business litigator to effectively advocate for children affected by cancer, leading an organization focused on advancing research for more effective and less toxic treatments, and providing comprehensive support to families throughout their challenging journey.
2. The Critical Underfunding of Childhood Cancer Research: Despite childhood cancer being the second leading cause of death in children (behind accidents), it receives disproportionately low funding. Less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute's research budget is allocated to childhood cancers, and pharmaceutical companies rarely invest due to limited profit potential. This makes private philanthropy, like CURE, essential for funding the specialized research needed for these biologically distinct diseases.
3. Prioritizing Less Toxic Treatments and Holistic Family Support: CURE is intensely focused on funding research into targeted therapies and precision medicine, which aim to eliminate cancer cells without the severe, long-term side effects (like secondary cancers or organ damage) often associated with conventional chemotherapy and radiation in children. Additionally, the organization provides crucial long-term support, including counseling for patients, survivors, siblings, and bereaved families, recognizing the profound and lasting trauma that the cancer journey can inflict on the entire family unit.
About Kristin and CURE:
- Website: https://curechildhoodcancer.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-connor-8377067/
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