SAM DAY FOUNDATION

The Sam Day Buddy Run has become a well loved event! Introduced during the pandemic, it's been so popular and special that we just keep doing it. This year, 13 runners ran and fundraised for SDF in honor of a kid fighting cancer, or in memory of a kiddo we've lost. The 12-mile course begins right outside the back door or Doernbecher, the floor where kids are receiving treatment for cancer. We take a moment to recognize the gravity of this mission, the runners take on a challenging course, ending in a celebration. Often times, their "Buddies" are waiting for them with signs and smiles at the finish line near a playground. Kids should be on the playground, not an inpatient oncology floor. This year's event raised $49,000 for childhood cancer research.

Childhood sarcomas sure don't seem rare when two good friends have both seen their kids go through the same treatment. Lorna and Eleanor had a few things to say about creating better treatments. https://lnkd.in/gjj7-6Gz

The Sam Day Soiree always includes a few good laughs. And kids. And incredible sponsors. So we put it all together and produced a highly entertaining way to recognize our sponsors. Thanks to the amazing Portland Video Production Company™. The Partners Group THE SAFEWAY FOUNDATION The Oregon Fruit Company OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Ferris Investigations LLC Total Cleaning Solutions LLC Sargent Electric Company Tony Hoskins Cook Solutions Group Brass Design https://lnkd.in/gkVeZK9z

The 10th Sam Day Soiree raised $486K last Saturday after these young people told our 450 guests what life is really like for kids with cancer. With this kind of momentum, we intend to make progress in creating better treatments so kids can live long and healthy lives after cancer. It's long overdue. Thank you to everyone who showed up! What an incredible community!

Progress for Ewing sarcoma research! Investigators at Seattle Children’s Hospital have just been awarded a 2 year grant from the National Cancer Institute to pursue innovative studies that aim to identify less toxic therapies for Ewing sarcoma. The collaborative R21 project between Dr. Beth Lawlor and Dr. Lisa Maves and their colleagues will expand upon pilot studies that were pursued with the generous support of the Sam Day Foundation. This initial Sam Day-funded work allowed the team to perform critical proof-of-concept studies in both Ewing sarcoma cells and in zebrafish models of heart development. With the new award from the NCI, Drs. Lawlor and Maves and their teams will be able to expand their investigations to encompass broader and more detailed investigations with a goal of identifying novel anti-cancer drugs and drug combinations that will kill Ewing sarcoma cells but not damage normal hearts. Cardiotoxicity remains a major and life-long side effect of current sarcoma therapies. The team at Seattle Children’s is committed to finding new cures for childhood cancers that will not damage growing hearts.

Becca is one sarcoma survivor who has persisted in the pursuit of living well. We're honored to have a small part in her story. https://lnkd.in/gZJFBWA7

Ty is an exceptional young man. He's fighting for other kids with cancer while dealing with his own. https://lnkd.in/gcQhbkQ5

With kids as the focus of the work we do, it's essential to have some fun! This is a fantastic video recap from the TPG Throwdown in August! https://lnkd.in/g99FQ8My

We've launched a newsletter focused on health and wellness for childhood cancer families, young patients and survivors! Please share with anyone you think might be interested. Though our research focus is on childhood sarcomas and brain tumors, this newsletter is meant to be a credible resource for anyone dealing with childhood cancer. Issue #2 will be out in a couple of days so sign up and let us know what you think. https://lnkd.in/e34uxxtD