As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, we continue to be humbled by the amazing outpouring of support from individuals and community partners across the Carolinas who raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research at Carolinas HealthCare System’s Levine Children’s Hospital. One such partner is the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation (JGCF). Earlier this month, JGCF organized the Charlotte Kick-It charity kickball tournament, which was organized through a national grassroots fundraising initiative known as “Kick-It”. Funds raised through the event will benefit the Torrence E. Hemby Jr. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Center—one of the fastest growing programs at Levine Children’s Hospital. Special thanks go to Jeff Gordon and his Foundation, as well as members of the hospital-led “FIGHT Crew” Kick-It team, including team captain Kathy Martin (pictured second from left in group photo) and Dr. Javier Oesterheld (pictured below).
History of support:
Each year, in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation organizes the Charlotte “Kick-It” kickball tournament; in recent years the event has raised an impressive $76,000 (in 2013 and 2014 alone) to benefit the Torrence E. Hemby Jr. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Center—one of the fastest growing programs at Levine Children’s Hospital. These significant contributions help to develop and advance cancer research at Levine Children’s Hospital in order to allow Levine Children’s Hospital pediatric oncologists to conduct experimental-stage, phase I and phase II clinical trials as it relates to children’s bone marrow. The support of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation continues to make the Levine Children’s Hospital pediatric cancer program truly comprehensive and advances the level of care so that families will rarely, if ever, have to leave Charlotte to gain access to the latest treatments for childhood cancers.