Annual Impact Report
January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023
In 2023, you brought us closer to a world without childhood cancer.
When it comes to childhood cancer, every step forward counts. Every discovery, every new drug, every development makes a difference for kids who are fighting for their lives. But these steps forward don’t just happen - they happen because of you. Wins in the fight against cancer are possible - but it takes all of us.
As we look back on 2023, we’re proud of the steps we’ve taken toward our ultimate goal: to ensure every child diagnosed with cancer becomes a healthy survivor.
Read Children's Cancer Research Fund’s 2023 Annual Impact Report to learn how you’re bringing us closer to a world without childhood cancer.
Your support funded research that will save the lives of kids with the hardest-to-treat cancers, in honor of children like Brice.
In 2023, your generosity helped researchers…
- Create models to test therapies against PFA ependymoma, a type of brain tumor with a survival rate below 15%.
- Identify the best types of Natural Killer cells to use against glioblastoma multiforme, a brain tumor where only one in four kids survive five years past diagnosis.
- Open a truly groundbreaking clinical trial for osteosarcoma, which could provide a lifesaving option with zero side effects for kids with this aggressive bone cancer.
- Secure a $3.5 million grant from the Nation Institutes of Health to develop a method to predict whether a child is at risk for developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia - and perhaps one day prevent it.
What’s next: In 2024, we aim to fund research that could create an off-the-shelf targeted leukemia treatment that is available for widespread and urgent use, and preserves the functionality of a child’s immune system. Donate today to fund this work.
Your support is building a world where support for kids who survive cancer doesn’t end once their cancer is gone.
Over 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a significant health issue related to their cancer treatment by the time they are 45 years old. Many of these issues can be lessened or even prevented by proper survivorship care, but only one in five survivors receive the customized care and guidance they need.
In 2023, you funded critical research projects that explore ways to keep supporting kids who survive cancer long after cancer is gone. We know the cancer journey never truly ends - and we intend to be there for every part of it.
In 2023, you helped researchers:
- Study the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer among childhood cancer survivors caused by the cancer treatments they received as kids.
- Deliver individualized survivorship care plans to kids on the day of diagnosis, which aim to reduce the long-term medical problems that can be caused by treatment.
- Explore new ways to measure the cognitive changes that brain tumor survivors experience, and build knowledge that could help mitigate or even prevent life-altering late effects.
What’s next: In 2024, we aim to fund research that will lessen psychological distress experienced by adolescent cancer survivors, help leukemia survivors regain and maintain their health after treatment, and enable survivors to better understand their risk of certain genetic diseases. Donate today to fund this work.
Your support is helping underserved families access lifesaving treatment.
Underserved children, including those from racial and ethnic minorities and those with lower socioeconomic status, have worse survival rates and psychological outcomes, and are more likely to relapse than wealthier or non-Hispanic white children. But with your help, we’ve funded researchers who are leaders in disparities research. These researchers are dedicated to ensuring that our hard-earned progress reaches every child.
In 2023, you funded four projects that will focus on ensuring that all children fighting cancer, no matter their race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, will have access to the best treatment possible.
Your generosity helped researchers…
- Discover how to solve issues created by language barriers, which have resulted in children of non-English speaking parents not taking their chemotherapy medication as prescribed, leading to higher rates of relapse.
- Conduct studies that ensure that the survival rate disparities that exist in children treated with chemotherapy don’t persist into a new era of immunotherapy treatments.
- Develop interventions to help children and families who are Medicaid recipients to ensure they can access providers for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The LeJeune Family Wellbeing Programs
This year marked the naming of The LeJeune Whole Family Wellbeing Programs, named in honor of the incredible generosity of Larry and Jean LeJeune. The LeJeunes cared deeply for children, family and their community throughout their lifetime. “The importance of family was my parents’ greatest legacy, and that didn’t stop with our family,” said their daughter, Renée LeJeune Hallberg.
The LeJeune legacy gift will create lasting change for years to come, helping launch our next generation of family wellbeing programs.
Beyond the immediate impact on the kids and families served, the LeJeunes have also moved others to give back and make a difference in the childhood cancer world. Their example reminds us of the power of philanthropy to create long-term healing and transform lives. Because of them, and in honor of those to whom they have given their support, survivors and their families can thrive.
"Through their time and treasure, they shared that love and support where children need it most. These] wonderful [programs] will provide resources and comfort to children and families on the cancer journey. “Renee LeJeune Hallberg, daughter of Larry and Jean LeJeune.
Your generosity...
We can do more for kids fighting cancer -
but it’s going to take all of us.
Supporters like you play a critical role in improving outcomes for kids diagnosed with cancer. We took steps forward on behalf of these kids in 2023 - steps that would not have been possible without your generosity. We’re determined to keep selecting and funding the best research until every child is a happy, healthy survivor - but it’s going to take all of us. We have big plans for 2024 and we want to do even more for kids fighting cancer, the families fighting alongside them and the researchers striving for better outcomes. Make a gift to support our efforts in 2024. View our full 2023 financials below.