The fight against childhood cancer is a global challenge. There are an estimated 175,000 newly diagnosed cases of childhood cancer worldwide each year. Cancer is emerging as a major cause of childhood death in the developing regions of Asia, South and Central America, northwest Africa and the Middle East. In the United States, cancer remains the No. 1 cause of death by disease of children older than 1. Although improved therapy has increased survival rates for children with cancer, more than 70 percent of the world’s children with cancer do not have access to modern treatment.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life- threatening diseases. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children here in Seattle, the United States and around the world. In addition to making its research results available, St. Jude has developed partnerships to extend our knowledge to institutions around the world.
At St. Jude, we believe in giving every child the best chance of a cure. By freely sharing knowledge, technology, and research data, we are saving the lives of children both in our clinics, and around the world. For more than 20 years, the St. Jude International Outreach Program has improved global survival rates for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
- The St. Jude International Outreach Program’s mission is to improve the survival rate of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases worldwide, through the sharing of knowledge, technology and organizational skills.
- St. Jude has 25 partners in 19 countries in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, the Eastern Mediterranean region and Asia.
- St. Jude Cure4Kids offers an online forum where more than 170 international groups meet regularly. Registration is free to pediatric health care professionals, scientists and researchers. More than 41, 000 health care professionals from 160 countries are registered users.
- St. Jude International Visitors Program provides specific training at St. Jude to selected visiting international health care professionals to fill specific needs at their patient institutions. Each year, about 120 health care professionals visit St. Jude through the program. These have included oncology/hematology and infectious disease physicians, surgeons, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, psychologists/psychiatrists, nutritionists, dentists, pathologists, laboratory technologists and physical therapists, representing more than 40 nations.
What can you do locally to help?
The local Seattle field office for ALSAC/ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the Pacific Northwest regional fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude and our sole mission is to raise the funds and awareness necessary to operate the hospital. Local support for regional events does make a difference—no family ever pays St. Jude for anything, for treatment, travel, food, or housing. St. Jude is the only pediatric research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance—so they can focus on the treatment of their child and not have to worry about bills. The office facilitates many different types of fundraising events, such as the upcoming 2016 Seattle St. Jude Walk Run to End Childhood Cancer at the Seattle Center. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and supporters in nearly 60 communities nationwide will lace up their sneakers to participate in the inaugural St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer. Join the fight on September 17 to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital reach a day when no child dies from cancer. Visit stjude.org/walkrun and register today.
St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer; but we need your help. Our time frame is urgent—our mission is critical. We are asking you to rally in the Seattle community in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to raise funds and awareness at the 2016 Seattle St. Jude Walk Run to End Childhood Cancer Saturday, September 17. Together, we can take huge steps towards our mission of finding cures and saving children worldwide.
Have questions or interested in becoming involved? Contact: Jill K Witsoe| [email protected].
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