Do Something

Do Something.

Written by Beat Childhood Cancer Executive Director Sarah Bartosz

The Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium held their Annual Meeting earlier this month in St. Petersburg, FL. This gathering of research and medical professionals from across the globe was both inspiring and informative. The summary of the 3-day gathering came in two words from Dr. Jaume Mora, a pediatric oncologist and Scientific Director of Hematology and Oncology at SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital: do something.

Poised to become the first European physician to lead an expansion site for the BeatCC Research Consortium, Dr. Mora spoke with passion about a child with rhabdomyosarcoma who inspired the work of his lab to develop a new therapeutic target for this cancer that has seen no advancement in decades. Dr. Mora sounded like every parent I know who, when faced with failing treatments and no options, pushed back on conventional knowledge to argue that if no other option is available and a child will die, isn't it our obligation to do something?

I believe this simple question is the motto of the BeatCC Research Consortium - a group of physicians and researchers who believe we must do something to help every child, everywhere. Dr. Giselle Sholler founded the Research Consortium on this very premise and held the very first Annual Meeting in May 2009 in Burlington, VT. While the locations and dates of the meetings have changed, the 'do something' mentality has remained a steadfast principle.

With more than 50 sites in North America, the Research Consortium is expanding first to Barcelona and then to Sao Paola, Brazil in 2025.

Children from across Europe and South America will now have access to novel clinical trials and therapies without having to travel to the U.S. or Canada. This also means the genomic tumor data from these kids will be added to the growing registry so that all these individual pieces of the giant childhood cancer puzzle can be expertly pieced together with hope.

And just as the spirit of BeatCC Research Consortium has never wavered, nor has the hope of the Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation in supporting this critical work. Parents, families, and champions from around the world continue to find hope in the Foundation's collaborative spirit and collective optimism that, together, we will beat childhood cancer.

The Foundation thoughtfully urges everyone to join us and DO SOMETHING. From fishing to school and student events . . . athlete and endurance events to galas . . . collegiate outreach to social media influence . . . corporate and business partnerships to auction donations, there is a place for every interest and every person to do something for every child, everywhere.

Do something. Hope is within reach.