Children's Cancer Research Fund is a
not-for-profit organization focused on raising money to fund research for childhood cancer. In addition to funding research, they also provide support programs for families affected by cancer.
History
Children's Cancer Research Fund was founded by Diana and Norm Hageboeck in 1981 after their daughter died of
leukemia.
The organization officially registered as a
501(c)(3)
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
charitable non-profit in February 1998.
In 2013, the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund was established to designate funding specifically for
osteosarcoma research. It's administered by the Children's Cancer Research Fund and donations fund research at the
University of Minnesota. The fund honors
Zach Sobiech, a musician who died of osteosarcoma in May 2013 at age 18.
In 2023, Elizabeth Crippen Allen was hired as the Chief Executive Officer, replacing former CEO Daniel Gumnit.
Events
The first fundraising event, "Dawn of a Dream", honored the Hageboeck's daughter, Katie, who died of leukemia. Since 1981, the Dawn of a Dream fundraiser has raised over $22 million for Children's Cancer Research Fund.
In December 2013, 5,000 people gathered in the rotunda at
Mall of America
Mall of America (MOA) is a large shopping mall located in Bloomington, Minnesota, United States. Located within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, the mall lies southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway ...
in
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is a suburban city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, on the north bank of the Minnesota River, above its confluence with the Mississippi River, south of downtown Minneapolis. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 89,987, ma ...
, as part of the first "Clouds Choir", an annual event that raises money for the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Research Fund. During the event, participants pay tribute to Zach Sobiech while singing his hit song "Clouds".
In 2019, 6,000 people attended the event, along with celebrities from the film
''Clouds'':
Justin Baldoni,
Neve Campbell,
Tom Everett Scott,
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Annlynn Carpenter (born May 11, 1999) is an American singer and actress. Carpenter made her acting debut with an appearance in the television crime show ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' and had a recurring role on Fox Broadcasting ...
,
Madison Iseman and
Fin Argus.
In 2015, Great Cycle Challenge USA was launched to support Children's Cancer Research Fund. The event encourages participants to set a goal for riding their bike over the course of a month and to ask their family and friends to support them as they ride their bikes to raise awareness for cancer research.
Over the history of Great Cycle Challenge USA, more than 230,000 people have participated from all 50 states, raising more than $24 million for Children's Cancer Research Fund.
Research
Since its inception, the Children's Cancer Research Fund has invested over $186 million to research and support programs.
In 2014, money raised through the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund helped support breakthrough research. With funding support from Children's Cancer Research Fund, the osteosarcoma research team at the University of Minnesota discovered Semaphorin-4D (
SEMA4D), a gene associated with the cause of osteosarcoma.
References
{{Authority control
Children's charities based in the United States
Charities based in Minnesota
Cancer charities in the United States
Medical and health organizations based in California