“Team G Funds Promising Research at Lucile Packard”
[March 4th, 2015] Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, CA
Two years ago at the age of 5, Gabriella Cosner completed her 42 weeks of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery treatment of her childhood cancer. Since then, her parents have joined forces with many other cancer parents facing similar journey’s to put an end to childhood cancer.
Last summer, the Cosner family met the Vernacchia family of Los Gatos after their daughter Sofia was diagnosed with leukemia. Gabriella’s mom, Kristin, received a phone call from Sofia’s mom, Denise saying, “I want to raise funds for childhood cancer research” and headed a fundraising effort called “Sofia’s Courage” (teamgfoundation.org/sofias-courage) where individuals were donating funds to the Team G’s mission and tying a gold ribbon in front of their homes in support of September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Through their fundraising efforts, a very generous grant was presented by Derek and Joanne Berry from the CJ Berry Foundation to our foundation specifically for pediatric cancer research in honor of Sofia.
“What’s even more incredible to me is the fact that Sofia has been dealing with the journey of treatments this whole time while her and her family are raisings funds to fight childhood cancer”. Kristin, Founder and CEO. So far, the Vernacchia family has raised over $35k for the Team G Childhood Cancer Foundation. Last week, a donation in the amount of $20,000 was presented to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital where the funding would be applied to the work of Dr. Khorbanda in the pursuit of CAR T cell immunotherapy treatments where the patients own immune cells are engineered to treat their cancers. Read more about immunotherapy here http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/research-updates/2013/CAR-T-Cells. Sofia’s doctor, Dr. Schlis is putting her first patient through the T Cell process in April. She has been training to administer the therapy. Dr. Harvey Cohen, a pediatric oncologist who serves on the Medical Advisory Board of Team G, states that the funds will be directly applied to a gap in funding to train medical staff on the process and procedures of administering the therapy.
Since these two moms have met, they have been unstoppable. Both families are overjoyed to be a part of the important research going on locally to help children fight cancer and hopefully one day, to cure childhood cancer.
To date, Team G has funded almost $70,000 for pediatric cancer research and has sent over 700 Hope Totes.
http://www.tpgonlinedaily.com/scotts-valley-times-april-2015/
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