Julia Schatz, Account Supervisor
Childhood cancer remains the NUMBER ONE cause of death by disease in children today. Yet less then 4% of money raised for cancer research goes to Pediatric research.September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and today, September 12, is recognized as Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day in Chicago and across Illinois! In honor of today’s recognition, I wanted to help share awareness about a cause very close to Culloton Strategies’ heart.
Founded in 1992, Bear Necessities was inspired by an eight-year-old boy, Barrett “Bear” Krupa, whose profound desire was to brighten the lives of children suffering from cancer. Tragically, he lost his own courageous battle with the disease, but his dream lives on through the work of Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The organization is dedicated to eliminating pediatric cancer and to providing hope and support to those who are touched by it.
Bear Necessities has been fulfilling Bear’s mission for 20 years through our Bear Hugs Program, Bear Discoveries and Bear Empowerment grants for pediatric cancer research and support services on a local and national level. Last year, over 300 Bear Hugs were granted to children and their families to provide hope and support as they struggle to fight this terrible disease. Since the Foundation’s inception, 80% of all funds have been used to fund special experiences for children affected by cancer or research grants to aide in the fight for a cure.
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is hosting its first annual “A Walk for the Bear: A Beary Spooky Stroll” fundraiser on October 26. The three-mile family walk through Lincoln Park will raise awareness for pediatric cancer and funds for research for a cure. You can sign up for the event here or help me raise money for this amazing cause by donating to my fundraising page for the event: https://walkforthebear.mybearnecessities.org/JuliaSchatz
Did You Know? Facts About Pediatric Cancer
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Every 3½ minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. That’s the equivalent of two classrooms full of kids diagnosed each school day!
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Every day, 42 children are diagnosed with cancer.
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12% of children diagnosed with cancer do not survive.
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Children’s cancer affects all ethnic, gender and socio-economic groups.
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The average age of children diagnosed is six.
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More than 40,000 children undergo treatment for cancer each year.
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60% of children who survive cancer suffer late-effects, such as infertility, heart failure and secondary cancers.
There are approximately 375,000 adult survivors of children’s cancer in the United States. That equates to 1 in 530 adults ages 20-39