SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – Cancer is the No. 1 cause of disease-related death among children. About 13,400 children between birth and age 19 are diagnosed with cancer each year. Just at the Medical University of South Carolina, about 60 children are diagnosed annually.
And yet childhood cancer doesn’t receive as much attention or as much funding as adult cancers. Chase After a Cure aims to change that. Since its founding in 2009, Chase After a Cure has raised $425,000 for neuroblastoma research at the Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital.
Neuroblastoma has one of the lowest survival rates and receives very little national funding for research. Work is being done right here in Charleston to find new treatments for neuroblastoma. The research laboratory, housed in the Darby Children's Research Institute, is the only laboratory in the state of South Carolina dedicated to pediatric cancer research.
September has been designated Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Chase After a Cure is hosting a variety of events and promotions to bring attention to childhood cancers.
Cancer’s Impact on Children: In addition special events, children of all ages are invited to answer the question: “How has cancer impacted you?”
Children and teenagers can either draw a photo or write a short paragraph explaining the impact of cancer on their lives (personally, a family member, friend). September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and it’s important to recognize the impact cancer has on everyone.
Submissions should be emailed to awareness@chaseafteracure.com Sept. 1-30. Each entry will receive a coupon from Sweet Cece’s Frozen Yogurt for a buy one, get one free frozen yogurt. Chase After a Cure and Sweet Cece’s reserve the right to use submissions and the child’s name and likeness in their marketing efforts, including but not limited to, press releases, media outreach, social media, websites and a display at Sweet Cece’s. One entry per child.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Events
Second Sunday on King: Volunteers from Chase After a Cure will be assisting at the information booth during Second Sunday on King from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 8. Stop by to learn more about what’s being done locally to combat childhood cancer and how you can get involved.
Second annual Chase After a Cure Golf Tournament: 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 at Patriots Point Links in Mount Pleasant. Presented by Smoak and Associates, this captain’s choice tournament is focused on driving away childhood cancer. Registration and lunch from Home Team BBQ begin at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners. Cost is $125 per person and $400 for a foursome. Sponsorships are still available. For more information or to register, visit www.chaseafteracure.com.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Event: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15 at Sweet Cece’s Frozen Yogurt & Treats, 99 S. Market St. in Charleston. Local businesses are joining together to celebrate children in the Lowcountry who are undergoing or who have gone through cancer treatments. Child cancer patients and survivors will receive free frozen yogurt, a gift from Wonder Works, carriage rides from Old South Carriage Co. and mini golf from Blackbeard’s Cove. Other attendees will receive rewards cards from Sweet CeCe’s and coupons for a future visit. Children and their families are invited to participate in this event to recognize all these children endure during their treatments and to raise awareness about the need for more funding for pediatric cancer research.
Hole Lot of Fun –2-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 at Blackbeard’s Cove, 3255 Highway 17 North in Mount Pleasant. Bring the whole family for unlimited golf, go-karts, jump castles, a climbing wall and arcade games. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at www.chaseafteracure.com or at the door.
