THE LCIF 2018 GRANT FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER
Frequently Asked Questions
WHY? The Lions Club International (LCI) at its Centennial meeting announced the “Pediatric (Childhood) Cancer Initiative” in July of 2017. This is the FIFTH major Initiative of LCI (Others are Vision, Hunger, Environment, and Diabetes).
FACTS: Every TWO minutes in our world a child is diagnosed with cancer. Every school day 36 classrooms full of children are diagnosed with cancer. An estimated 15.800 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year, or 43 children per day. The average age of a child with cancer is six (6) years. It is the LEADING cause of death in children in the US. Children's cancer is unique and is NOT the same disease as in adults, as they have different biology and are more aggressive. The survival rates for childhood cancer has improved from 20% to 80% over the past 40 years. Yet many childhood cancers are not treatable with traditional treatment. “Cellular therapies”, are personalized treatment cutting-edge treatment for cancer, where the patient's own blood is taken and using a specialized equipment, the T cells are sorted and genetically modified to become “Cancer Killing Cells” and reinjected/transplanted to the person with cancer. A key piece of equipment in this process is the “Flow Cytometer”. When these “turbo-charged ninja T cells” are given back to the patient, they attack the cancer cells leaving normal cells alone. The MCW had a FIRST potential CURE reported in February of 2018. The MCW Blood and Marrow Transplant team will begin treating children with cancer this fall.
WHAT? The MD 27 Lions submitted a LCIF Humanitarian Grant on January 26th. 2018, The GRANT is to: “Help Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in Milwaukee purchase critical equipment, a “FLOW CYTOMETER” for improving the care of Children with Cancer in Wisconsin”. This equipment, MACQSQuant analyzer costs $201,025. The LCIF GRANT is for $100,000. It was submitted on January 26th, 2018. The GRANT was approved on May 14th, 2018. The MD27 Lions, have from June 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018 to raise our matching $100,000. The Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC FUND) is our PARTNER in this Grant. They will provide publicity, awareness, media and the $1025. Once we have raised our portion, LCIF will release their funds and then we can obtain the Equipment for CHW/MCW in early 2019.
WHERE? The equipment (Flow Cytometer) will be given to the MCW Cell Therapy Laboratory, headed by Bryon Johnson, PhD., a leader in Pediatric Oncology. (Our plans are to do similar projects all over the state each year, to help facilities treating childhood cancer at other cancer treatment centers).
WHEN? The sooner we can get your contributions, the better. Each club can donate what is possible. Some clubs have pledged $2000 or more. You can have a fundraiser specifically for this project (The Port Washington Lions had a Bier Garden in early May and raised $2400 towards childhood cancer).
HOW? Lion Chuck Steinmetz, the current Council Chair, is the Administrator of the Grant. Please send your checks to the location indicated in the solicitation letter that you will receive soon. Lion SRI is available to make presentation at your club meetings and conventions as mutually worked out.
Contact: LION SRI Vasudevan, Project Chairperson of the LCIF Grant - drsrivasudevan@gmail.com; Phone # (414) 232-7772
