KANSAS CITY, Mo. — More than 40 children per day are diagnosed with cancer, and the fountain in Mill Creek Park turned gold Saturday in honor of those individuals.
Olathe-based Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer spearheaded the event, which is part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Kim Stanley, the organization’s vice president and director of development, said the state of the world amid the coronavirus pandemic, where “normal” is nonexistent, is similar to how parents feel when they have a child diagnosed with cancer.
“The world changes and nothing feels the same,” Stanley said. “We're all looking for research and a cure, and that's the same thing that we've all been facing with COVID. So it's actually very interesting how much parallel there is between the two diseases.”
Stanley said Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer, which has existed for nine years, has funded more than $4.1 million in research at Children’s Mercy, KU Cancer Centers and Stowers Institute.
The nonprofit’s namesake comes from a boy who fought cancer at the same time as his mother. Braden was told there was no cure for his form of cancer, while his mother was given treatment options.
Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer also plans to hold a gala later this month.
There have been four new drugs to fight pediatric cancer since 1980.
More information can be found on the nonprofit’s website.
