Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Connor.
Kristin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1991, I attended law school at the University of Georgia. Upon graduation in 1994, I joined a large law firm in midtown, where I practiced as a business litigator for ten years. In 2001, my world was turned upside down when my newborn son was diagnosed with an aggressive form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. At the time, this type of childhood cancer had a 40-50% five-year survival rate. It was devastating and life-changing. I was immersed into a world of suffering I knew virtually nothing about.
My son’s cancer journey was two years long. In November 2003, he was declared cancer free. While we were thankful he had beaten his disease; I was forever changed. I had made many friends “in the trenches” of the childhood cancer war zone and seen tremendous suffering. In 2004, one of my friends lost her son. This was the first (with unfortunately many more to come) death of a child I experienced. It was completely life-altering to watch a child endure such pain as his disease progressed – and to watch his parents desperately try to find some form of treatment somewhere in the world to save him. Heartbreakingly, there was nothing, and in September 2004, this little boy died.
It was then that I knew I had to direct all of my time and energy – and my skills as an advocate – to fighting childhood cancer. In 2004 I transitioned from law to the nonprofit sector. First, I worked for a national childhood cancer organization. In 2006, I became Executive Director of CURE Childhood Cancer, an Atlanta based non-profit founded in 1975 by the city’s first pediatric oncologist. My goal was and still is to do everything I can to advance scientific research, so all children have a chance to grow up and realize their dreams.
Since 2006, CURE has raised more than $50 million. We have invested this money in innovative research which is moving the needle on survival rates of children with cancer. We have tremendously expanded our support of patients and their families in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. I am proud of what this wonderful organization has accomplished, but there is still much work to be done.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. When I joined CURE’s staff, the organization was very small. I was only the third person on the team. There was not a consensus in terms of direction and goals among board members, many of whom were parents who had children with cancer. In many ways we had to start over – go back to the foundation and assess and agree on what we wanted to accomplish and then how to get there. Change can be very difficult to lead, especially when well-meaning people believe change isn’t needed. But I knew the organization could be doing so much more, and I was passionate about increasing the impact. I wanted to make a difference against the disease that was taking the lives of children I loved, and I believed (and still do) firmly in research as the only path to better treatments and cures. At the time, we were investing about $250,000 annually in research. Now, our annual investment exceeds $4 million. It’s not enough, so we keep pushing.
In addition to leading change, it’s difficult to manage the many different personalities and styles of volunteer board members and volunteers, in general, without whom we could not do our work. Nonprofits are virtually always under-resourced, as well, so contrary to what many people assume, the hours are extremely long…the work is all consuming. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. My work is my calling.
The most difficult challenge is being witness to the suffering of children and families. We strive to develop relationships with the families we serve which is what enables us to understand their needs and be able to respond to those needs, whether by providing financial assistance, counseling, meals or other services. The relationships are authentic and meaningful, so the suffering is personal.
Please tell us about CURE Childhood Cancer.
CURE Childhood Cancer is dedicated to finding less toxic treatments and cures for children with cancer. We invest $4 million annually in innovative research to this end. We also provide tangible support to childhood cancer patients and their families.
The Aflac Cancer Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has the highest volume of oncology patients of any pediatric cancer center in the country. This means the need for patient and family support is also higher than anywhere in the country. CURE strives to meet that need by working closely with the Aflac Cancer Center to help the families in their care. We provide emergency financial assistance, professional counseling services, meals to hospitalized children and their families three days a week every week of the year, bereavement support and much more. What makes me the most proud and what sets us apart are one in the same: every person on our team, from staff to our board of directors, is focused on the mission, and each and every day, we positively impact the lives of those we serve. Every decision made is with an eye on beating childhood cancer and serving our families. We are authentic in our relationships and in our efforts and passionate about our families.
I’m also proud of the research we are funding. In partnership with the Aflac Cancer Center, with a $4.5 million commitment, CURE is responsible for bringing a new form of treatment to Atlanta called precision medicine. With this innovative form of disease treatment, doctors are able to look at the individual genetic variability in the genes of each patient in order to find the right treatment. Not only will this ensure that children with cancer are receiving the treatment most likely to work for them, it also ensures they don’t receive toxic drugs with harmful side effects that will not work for them.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I can’t say that I have a single favorite memory. I have so many great memories. My family is a big game playing family. So holidays and family gatherings always involved marathon card games with lots of laughter. I loved those times. I still love them.
Contact Info:
- Address: 200 Ashford Center North
Suite 250 Atlanta, GA 30338 - Website: www.curechildhoodcancer.org
- Phone: 770-986-0035
- Email: kristin@curechildhoodcancer.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curechildcancer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curechildhoodcancer
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CUREchildcancer
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/curechildhoodcancer1
Image Credit:
Lynn Crow Photography
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