KEATON RAPHAEL MEMORIAL HELPS JUMP START CHILDHOOD CANCER CLINIC TRIAL RESEARCH PROJECT, UC DAVIS CANCER CENTER
The Keaton Raphael Memorial held its 14th Annual “Chipping Away at Childhood Cancer” Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, August 15th at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Roseville, CA and it was a day to remember.
The Keaton Raphael Memorial gifted $100,000 to UC Davis Cancer Center to explore “New Targeted Treatments for Neuroblastoma.” It also gifted $25,000 toward the UC Davis Pediatric Clinical Trials Program.
Neuroblastoma is a rare solid tumor affecting children and survival rates have remained relatively low for the past twenty years. Traditionally, treatments for Neuroblastoma involve very aggressive and toxic approaches due to the recurring nature of the tumor.
Dr. Noriko Satake will lead the research study to develop improved therapies to combat this “sneaky cancer.” This will mean less toxic side effects and more promising outcomes for our children battling this disease.
Each year in the United States more than 14,000 children are diagnosed with some form of cancer and approximately 2,500 of them will lose their battle. Despite research advances in some childhood Cancers, cancer still remains the #1 disease killer of our children. More than seventy-five percent of children are treated on life-saving clinical trials.
Overall, research funding at the national level for childhood cancer has been underfunded leaving a heavier burden to find a cure in private philanthropy. Children are our most precious resource and investing in a cure should be among the top priorities in our nation. The average age of diagnosis for a child is six year old as to compared with an adult at age sixty-seven.
The Keaton Raphael Memorial mission is to support children with cancer and their families by providing emotional, educational and financial support, while also increasing awareness and funding research toward a cure. The non-profit organization also offers burial expenses to families and provides an extensive network of resources.
An advocate for families, Robyn and Kyle Raphael of Roseville lost their 5-year-old son Keaton to
Neuroblastoma, only eight months after his diagnosis in 1998. Shortly after Keaton’s death, Robyn and Kyle began tirelessly working locally and eventually in Washington, D.C. to advocate childhood cancer research funding.
For questions or additional information about the Keaton Raphael Memorial visit www.ChildCancer.org.
Or you can call (916) 784-6786 or e-mail events@childcancer.org.