Greetings!
Over and over again this year, I've been moved by the incredible acts of kindness and community from our CARES family. Your unparalleled generosity as a donor supports on-going cancer research, making it possible for CARES to keep driving progress and empowering experts to develop innovative research and treatment.
This year, CARES continued our multi-year cancer research grant in melanoma research at a National Cancer Institute-accredited laboratory. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and has historically been treated through surgical removal, which can be invasive and disfiguring. In addition, survivors of melanoma are 13 to 16 times more likely than their peers to be diagnosed with additional skin cancer later in life. Our immunotherapy research is improving how melanoma is treated so patients experience less invasive treatment and better survival rates.
We awarded 12 different healthcare partners across eight states cancer care grants. Funded through CARES' peer-to-peer programs, Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ and Steps to Stop Cancer, these grants support research and provide cancer patient support services and ancillary care. This year's grants included but are not limited to:
- the development of an Immune Cell Therapy (ICE-T) infrastructure with Moffitt Cancer Center's clinical and research teams so they can open new trials quickly, develop new treatments, and discover a universal receptor or vaccine to target cancers of all types.
- supporting the purchase of a new 64-slice Digital PET/CT scanner through the Mercy Health Foundation, so patients can spend less time in the scanner and physicians have more tools to detect and diagnose small cancerous tumors.
- the creation of the Merrill Oncology Center Travel Fund at Adirondack Health, so cancer patients in this remote area can receive financial assistance for travel expenses related to their lifesaving treatments.
There are more CARES' achievements on the horizon in 2021. As this year draws to a close, I hope you reflect on all we have accomplished together with pride and look forward to what we will do together in the new year. Thank you for your steadfast support and belief in the importance of cancer research. Because of you, we can and we will turn cancer upside down.
My best wishes to you and yours for a Happy Holiday season and a blessed New Year.
With gratitude,
