Exploring Life & Business with Grainne Owen of Curing Kids Cancer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grainne Owen.

Hi Grainne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I founded the charity in 2005 after we lost one of our twin sons, Killian, to leukemia when he was only nine years old. There was a brand new drug that could have saved his life, but the doctors didn’t have the funding to get it out of the lab and into treatment. We took Killian home, and he passed away three weeks later. After we lost Killian, I knew that there were other children out there who needed these new drugs, and I became determined not to let other families go through what our family went through. So, I found founded Curing Kids Cancer with the goal of raising money for childhood cancer research.

The organization began as Coaches Curing Kids Cancer. Pulling inspiration from that first coach’s generosity, the initial format for fundraising was established: instead of giving gifts to coaches at the end of a season, teams could donate money in their coaches’ honor. The goal was to raise $5,000 the first season and give that money to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where Killian was treated, for ongoing pediatric cancer research. The program far exceeded the initial goal, raising $45,000 in its first year! Since that first season, Curing Kids Cancer has raised more than $20,000,000 for pediatric cancer research and treatment.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
While cancer is the number one cause of death by disease among children, only 4% of the billions of dollars the government spends annually on cancer research is directed towards treating childhood cancer. CKC is dedicated to funding innovative research by doctors who are dedicated to finding cures for pediatric cancers.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
CKC is the charity of choice for Mecum Auction Company, the world leader of collector car, motorcycle and road art sales. The relationship began in 2011 when Curing Kids Cancer received the donation of a one-of-a-kind motorcycle created on the Discovery Channel show, Café Racer. When the time came to decide what to do with it, the idea was presented to auction it off at Mecum. Without hesitation, the motorcycle was sent to Mecum Kissimmee where it brought in $45,000 for cures.

From that moment, Mecum President Dana Mecum was sold on Curing Kids Cancer. Every day, of every auction, a Mecum neon SOLD sign is given to whoever makes the biggest donation to CKC. Mecum President Dana Mecum personally signs and dates each one himself.

In addition to donations, collectors and philanthropists also donate proceeds from vehicles, guitars, tractors and more to Curing Kids Cancer. CKC and Mecum have been partners since 2012 and have raised more than $9 million together!

How do you define success?
Every two hours, a child in the U.S. is diagnosed with cancer. That translates to approximately 15,000 children a year. Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease in childhood and a cure for all is the ultimate goal. In addition, survivors of childhood cancer can face a lifetime of health problems due to the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. That’s because the medicines that are available don’t distinguish well enough between the cancer cells and the normal tissues in the rest of the body. New, less toxic, and more effective treatments are desperately needed by children with cancer. Curing Kids Cancer works to fund innovative research, such as that of Dr. Grupp at CHildren’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Grupp and his team have revolutionized the treatment of relapsed leukemia, using the child’s own T-cells, which normally fight regular infections, but they genetically engineer them in the lab so that they recognize, attack, and kill leukemia cells that are resistant to chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation. These special CAR T cells are manufactured using the patient’s own regular T-cells, thereby allowing them to recognize and kill leukemia cells without damaging healthy cells. There is then no need for these children to have chemotherapy or radiation.

This treatment has recently had a 97% response rate and most of the children treated were either on hospice care or about to be put on hospice care. This success is previously unheard of in any kind of cancer treatment and is leading the way to a world where cancer is a curable disease!

We work in Killian’s memory for children who need a cure. Curing Kids Cancer has raised more than $20 million to fund research that is helping cure pediatric cancers. We will fund cures. We will find cures.

Contact Info:

• Email: samantha@curingkidscancer.org
• Website: CuringKidsCancer.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/curingkidscancer
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/curingkidscancer
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/curingcancer
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTMmlgYCG3kUxhtCVlyJizQ