The live-streamed event raised a record $436,700 for CFK

By Chuck Gibson

LOVELAND, OH (December 14, 2020) – November 13, CancerFree Kids held their 17th Annual Celebration of Champions. It took on a different look this year.

Bob Herzog hosted along with fellow Local 12 personality John Gumm (Provided)

The 2020 Home Edition of the CancerFree Kids Celebration of Champions was presented by Cincinnati Bell and CBTS. It was broadcast via livestream to CFK supporters from 31 states.  Hosts Bob Herzog and John Gumm from Local 12 kept everyone entertained as they handed off between the live program and pre-recorded videos about the CancerFree Kids’ mission including messages from CFK Executive Director Jill Brinck and Founder Ellen Flannery. An Impact Video detailed successes of past research grants. A Mission Video featured Gracie, a two-time Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) survivor.

Jill Brinck, Executive Director, CancerFree Kids (File)

“Our goal this year was to keep the inspiring and meaningful experience of the traditional event but capitalize on the opportunity to engage more people than ever before.” said Brinck.

Individuals were able to support the event through multiple avenues. They bid on over 180 auction items, purchased Grand Raffle tickets and donated to the Fund-a-Grant, which directly funds innovative childhood cancer research.

The “Home Edition” had over 1,000 participants who helped raise an event record sum of $436,700. The money raised will fund innovative research grants at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. CancerFree KIDS specifically funds early promising research projects that would otherwise go unfunded.

Meg Johnstone, researcher joined the Celebration of Champions “Home Edition” livestream (Provided)

Parker Carroll – Champion and Family at home during the Celebration of Champioons Home Edition (Provided)

“We view our partnership with CancerFree KIDS as being one team united in our mission to use out-of-the-box research to cure high risk and relapsed cancer,” said Dr. John Perentesis, Director of the Division of Oncology and Institute Co-Director of the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “As I’ve said before, there are kids cured and running around today who would not be here if it hadn’t been for CancerFree KIDS’ research”

Since inception, CancerFree KIDS has funded 154 research projects totaling nearly $5.5 million which has resulted in over $70 million in subsequent funding for pediatric cancer research.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to our incredible sponsors, donors and volunteers for making this night such a success and we are excited to get these dollars to work immediately!” Brinck said.

About CancerFree KIDS

CancerFree KIDS funds innovative research that has the promise of gentler treatments and cures for children with cancer. We know that seed money for novel ideas is critical, and yet it is the most difficult type of funding to get.  Potentially game-changing ideas often go untried due to lack of funding. The Celebration of Champions helps fuel CancerFree KIDS’ mission to bridge this gap so new ideas can get off the ground.