The Chattanooga CureSearch Walk on Nov. 1 at Coolidge Park will bring together over 200 people to celebrate and honor the 42 children diagnosed with cancer every day. Funds raised at the CureSearch Walk will help fund research that accelerates the cure for children with the greatest risk of losing their battle with cancer.
“I have a daughter who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2011 and when I learned about CureSearch and how it focused on finding cures for childhood cancer, I was determined to become involved.
“ said Kathy Youngblood, one of this year’s planning committee members.
During this unique event’s opening ceremony, survivors will be called to the stage to state their name and receive a medal, while those who lost their battle will be remembered as families release a balloon in their memory. After the opening ceremony, survivors, supporters, families, friends, and medical professionals will walk about 2 miles over the Walnut Street Bridge before returning for the closing ceremonies.
"Every day 42 children are diagnosed with cancer. Children’s cancer affects all ethnic, gender, and socio-economic groups equally and is the leading cause of death by disease in children. During the last 25 years the overall survival rate for children’s cancer has increased from 40% to nearly 90%, but for many rare cancers, cure rates remain unchanged. Furthermore, the number of diagnosed cases annually has not declined in nearly 20 years," organizers said.
“At CureSearch, we are committed to changing the odds for children most at risk for losing their battle with cancer. We know that the 15,500 infants, children, and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year deserve new and better treatments, faster than at a pace of 2 in 25 years,” says Laura Thrall, president and CEO of CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. “That is why we fund novel research and support clinical trials at hospitals across the country. We’re fighting for the future that every child deserves and every parent dreams of.”
To learn more about the Chattanooga CureSearch Walk visit www.curesearchwalk.org/chattanooga.