Wynnewood, PA (October 2010) – Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF) and the I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation today announced the co-funding of three childhood cancer research grants.   Both foundations share a vision of finding better treatments and ultimately cures for all childhood cancers.  

2010 marks the second year that I Care I Cure and ALSF, two unique organizations from different parts of the country, have collaborated to co-fund research grants.   I Care I Cure supports the development of, and raises public awareness about, cutting-edge, targeted therapies for childhood cancer, so that the treatment of childhood cancer will be gentler and more tolerable. After reviewing Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s 2010 grantees, I Care I Cure identified three researchers whose progress toward improving the treatment of childhood cancers merited its support.

The research that I Care I Cure will fund alongside ALSF in 2010:

Program Infrastructure Award - Katherine Matthay at the University of California San Francisco for her research into 131 I-MIBG Imaging and Therapy for Neuroblastoma.

Young Investigator - Danielle Benoit at the University of Rochester, Targeted Polymeric Parthenolide Carriers to Treat Childhood AML

Innovation - Andrew Napper at the Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE
Discovery of Inhibitors of MLL Fusion Proteins as Targeted Therapies for Pediatric Acute Leukemia

“It is an honor to be working alongside I Care I Cure toward a common goal of curing childhood cancer, and doing that in a manner that preserves the quality of life for children long-term” said Jay Scott, Alex’s father. “Having a child who fought cancer for nearly her entire life, we saw firsthand the impact of treatment on a young child. We hope that through this collaboration we can move closer to cures, and do so with safer, less-toxic treatments.”

Beth Besner, who co-founded I Care I Cure with the support of family and friends following the 2006 death of her 11-year-old son Ian, notes researchers are on the verge of identifying gentler, more effective cures for childhood cancers, but more financial support is needed.  “Promising research is on the horizon, and with increased awareness and continued financial support we can make advances in the treatment of childhood cancer so that no child has to suffer or succumb to this disease.”

About I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation:

The I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation was founded by Beth and Brad Besner in honor of their son Ian who died in May, 2006 at 11 years of age from complications related to his leukemia treatments. The Besners knew they needed to devote their efforts to educating the public about and finding gentler, more humane cures for childhood cancer. They created the Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, that supports research focused on discovering drugs that target cancer cells only, while leaving healthy cells intact. With targeted treatments, patients should have fewer painful side effects and fewer long-term health problems. To date, I Care I Cure has awarded $415,000 towards targeted childhood cancer research.