Our Children Need Your Help

As we end 2017, nearly 16,000 children have been diagnosed with some form of cancer. That’s approximately 43 children every day and one child every two minutes. That is heartbreaking and unacceptable.

Brooke Desserich never thought she would be one of those “cancer parents.” But in 2007 she became one after her daughter Elena was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric brain cancer called DIPG. Before diagnosis with DIPG, Elena was a 6-year-old with a passion for art and reading. But as the cancer slowly robbed her of her abilities, it was art and reading that remained as her link to the outside world. She was treated both at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and St. Jude Hospital in Memphis. Sadly, Elena's fight ended in August 2007, but her inspiration in us all remains strong.

Throughout their journey, this community of Cincinnati was a major source of support for their family. One thing that remained was hope, especially when the Desserich’s created The Cure Starts Now Foundation.

“Ten years ago when my Elena was battling DIPG, there was only a total of $250,000 in research that had ever been funded. Today, we are funding research at a rate of $2-4 million a year! The new insights we are gaining regarding the biology of the tumors and their weaknesses, it is evident that progress is being made. It has to be made, because so many children continue to die from this type of cancer,” said Brooke, Elena’s mother and Executive Director/Co-Founder of The Cure Starts Now.

Thanks to our supporters, The Cure Starts Now Foundation has been able to fund over $4 million in pediatric cancer research this year to continue to give hope to families like Brooke’s. This $4 million in funding would not have been possible without the grassroots efforts of this community.

Dr. Stewart Goldman of The Cure Starts Now Medical Advisory Council makes it very clear, “Federal funding for pediatric cancer in general is a small drop in the bucket of cancer research dollars. And then taking that down to pediatric brain tumors, it becomes even more fractional.”

The research that has been funded is helping doctors find more targeted options to fight these cancers and ultimately find the homerun cure for all cancers. But we can’t stop there.

YOU can make a difference this holiday season. Continue to support Elena and her family’s efforts by making a tax-deductible donation to help fund more vital pediatric cancer research. A gift of just $25 funds one hour of research. Please help give the gift of hope to those children and families who need it most.

Donate by calling 513-772-4888 or www.donate2csn.org or mail a check to The Cure Starts Now; 10280 Chester Rd; Cincinnati, OH 45215.