Spring 2006 - Kids Cancer Care

FOR THE PARTICIPANTS, VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS OF KIDS CANCER CARE FOUNDATION OF ALBERTA
KCCFA raises $2.5 million for Childhood Cancer
Research Centre
The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta
strengthened its commitment to child cancer
research in the spring of 2005, when it quietly
launched a $2.3 million campaign to raise
money for a new Children’s Cancer Research
Centre (CCRC).
We Believe Campaign co-chairs Howie Crone,
Wayne Berg and Brad Stevens led a strong
initiative and a committed team of volunteers.
Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our
donors and the hard work of our campaign
team, KCCFA surpassed its campaign goal,
raising $2.5 million. Campaign monies will be
used to outfit the new research centre and to
ensure the Kids Cancer Care Foundation
Chair in Pediatric Oncology is fully funded.
Funds raised over the campaign goal will help
the centre purchase vital equipment for
research labs.
Tere Mahoney Photography
researchers will focus their energies on high
risk childhood cancers, that is, cancers with
poor outcomes. Benefitting from the collaborative
design of the centre, researchers will work
closely with other cancer disciplines, particularly
brain tumour research, to share resources,
findings and practices.
SPRING 2006
Camp & Community Outreach
Research
Clinical Support
Calgary philanthropists stepped up to make
the We Believe Campaign a success. Each gave
for different reasons. For Alison and Darrell
Jones, giving came from a deeply personal
commitment to fight cancer.
“The reason my husband and I chose to
support the Children’s Cancer Research
Centre was based on how cancer impacted
our lives,” says Alison Jones. “My brother is
battling brain cancer. Our primary objective is
to help in finding better detections, treatments
and ultimately a cure, for this and all types of
cancer.”
Housed at the University of Calgary’s new
Health Research Innovation Centre at the
Foothills Medical Centre, the CCRC will be an
integral part of the Southern Alberta Cancer
Research Institute and home to some of the
world’s top child cancer researchers. CCRC
CCRC researchers will focus on high risk cancers, offering new
hope to children with cancers that have low survival rates of 10
per cent or less.
Construction on the CCRC is slated to begin
this summer, with an anticipated opening date
in 2007. Watch our newsletter and website for
more news on the CCRC in the coming
months.
Inside…
Message from CEO 2
KCCFA News 3
Favourite Friends 4/5
Camp & Community 6/7
Our People 8/9
Perspectives 10
Research 11
Fundraising Events 12
Editor: Gail Corbett
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca
1

Message from our CEO
Many things about our Foundation began as wonderful but distant dreams. Our first cancer camp,
our first research grant and the first KCCF Chair in Pediatric Oncology are among the dreams that
became reality. With hard work, a little luck and hundreds of dedicated volunteers, donors, families
and friends, we have achieved many of our goals.
John Manuel
The Children’s Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) began as a dream just two
years ago, when board members first discussed the possibility. Today, thanks to
the efforts of our dedicated and highly motivated volunteers and staff, the
We Believe Campaign for the CCRC is now complete. I couldn’t be more
encouraged by this important step in the evolution of KCCFA and I look
forward to hearing about the advances in research this centre will enable.
For the fourth year now, motorcyclists are revving their motors for the Trico
Homes Ride for a Lifetime. We hope to raise more than $200,000 for children’s
cancer research. This year, motorcyclists will ride in honour of the Lee family,
whose 19-year-old daughter Karisma was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic
leukemia two years ago. This memorable ride takes place June 23 to 25 and will
take motorcyclists on a tour through the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
Please consider pledging a rider online by visiting our website at
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca.
We often hear stories of the rich and powerful giving millions to good causes.
While these gifts provide a world of difference to charities, it is also the stories
of people who give of themselves in unique and personal ways that reveal the
depths of human creativity and compassion. This issue contains stories about
such giving that will inspire and humble you.
KCCFA CEO Christine Wandzura
and other motorcycle enthusiasts
are revving their engines for the
2006 Trico Ride for a Lifetime.
“Surround yourself with good people” has always been a credo I have
embraced. And KCCFA has been blessed with amazing people — generous
volunteers and donors and skilled and compassionate staff. You’ll read about
one of our staff members, Tracey Huddy, in this edition. With the support of the
Camp & Community Outreach team, Tracey helps children and families through some of their
darkest hours. It is a role she embraces with energy, sensitivity and creativity.
School’s almost out and it’s time to fill in your camp applications and send them to KCCFA. Or, if
you plan to golf in the Don, Joanne and the Coach Golf a Kid to Camp tournament this summer, or
in one of the many community golf tournaments hosted in support of KCCFA programs, please call
us at 403.216.9210 or visit our website.
Looking forward to summer camp, golf and all the good things that come of dreaming big and
envisioning “a cure for every child, care for every family.”
Thank you for helping us make our dreams reality.
Sincerely,
Christine Wandzura, M.S.M, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
2
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca

St. Stephen School hosts
International Childhood Cancer Day
Every year as many as 250,000 kids worldwide
are diagnosed with cancer. Calgary junior high
student Samantha Andres is one of these
children. And she’s a survivor, one who is
deeply committed to helping other kids
survive the disease.
A longtime KCCFA friend and camper,
Samantha and her vice principal Paul Chamberland
organized the first annual St. Stephen
International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD)
on February 13, 2006. Samantha spearheaded
the event to help her peers learn more about
childhood cancer and its affects on individuals.
“Cancer has touched me, on a
personal level and one of our
students. It is important to
make kids aware and to raise
a lot of money.”
KCCFA News
Childhood
cancer around
the world
• There are about
250,000 children
diagnosed with cancer
each year
• 80 per cent of
these children live in
developing nations
• Approximately 180,000
of these children die
needlessly because they
lack access to optimal
treatment
• In resource rich
countries, about 75 per
cent of children
diagnosed with cancer
survive
• In resource poor
countries, about 80 per
cent of children
diagnosed with cancer
do not survive
KCCFA staff Tim Ireland and Sara Foster
kicked off the day, presenting a seminar on
childhood cancer to some 200 kids. Samantha
took the day to a whole new level, moving
awareness into action by raising $400 through
a Wear a Hat for a Loonie Day.
The money from Samantha’s initiative will buy
new DVD players for the cancer unit at the
Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Samantha Andres, a longtime friend of KCCFA and childhood
cancer survivor, organized the first St. Stephen International
Childhood Cancer Day to help peers learn more about
childhood cancer and its effects.
St. Stephen administrators and teachers were
inspired by the day’s festivities and are keen to
host an ICCD event next year.
“This is an important event,” says Paul Chamberland.
“Awareness is a big thing. Cancer has
touched me, on a personal level and one of
our students. It is important to make kids
aware and to raise a lot of money.”
International Confederation of
Childhood Cancer Parent
Organizations www.icccpo.org.
Through My Eyes 2006
Last winter, Samantha and children from
around the world took part in the Through My
Eyes photo project, a three-year initiative
spearheaded by the International Society of
Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) and the International
Confederation of Childhood Cancer
Parent Organizations (ICCCPO), which takes a
look at the cancer experience through the
eyes of children. These young people track
their cancer journey through photos, beginning
with photos in the hospital (2005) and moving
to photos at school (2006) and finally home
(2007). This year’s photos will be unveiled this
fall at SIOP’s annual general meeting in Geneva.
To view last year’s photos visit www.icccpo.org.
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca
3

Alberta
Community
Initiatives
program
The Minister of
Gaming administers a
Community Initiatives
Program (CIP), one of
the granting programs
that receives money
from the Alberta
Lottery Fund. Thousands
of volunteer,
public and communitybased
initiatives
annually receive monies
from Alberta Lottery
Fund proceeds. Over
the past two years,
KCCFA has received
$150,000 from CIP for
Camp SunMaker.
KCCFA is grateful for
this support, which
enables us to send
hundreds of children
and their siblings
affected by cancer to
camp each summer.
Favourite Friends
Friends in the community make great things happen for KCCFA kids and families! We thank our friends
who raised funds on our behalf through community initiatives such as raffles, shaves and other fundraisers.
They Shoot. They Score!
Southern Alberta Women’s Hockey Association scores $15,354 for KCCFA
SAWHA players raised more than $15,000 for KCCFA programs.
Players from the Southern Alberta Women’s
Hockey Association (SAWHA) sharpened their
skates and warmed up the ice Friday December
2, with two charity hockey games for
KCCFA.
“The players really pulled together,” says Paul.
“They played hard. They worked hard, collecting
pledges before the game and raising a lot
of money and awareness for kids cancer care
and research.”
Photo courtesy of Calgary Health Region
Players from 24 senior women’s hockey teams
took part in SAWHA’s Play for a Cure tournament,
raising $15,354 for the Foundation.
“Hockey is pretty straight forward,” says Paul
Mangan, Coach of the PSA Junior Comets team
and the man behind Play for a Cure. “You shoot,
you score. You win, you lose. Childhood cancer
is a bit more complicated than that. It takes a
lot of time, money, care and research expertise
for even the smallest wins. But like hockey,
some kids win, and sadly, some lose. We’re
hoping to help change the odds, so all kids with
cancer can win.”
Paul recalls a night of fast-paced hockey. And,
he laughs, there were no fights in the dressing
room just a sense of pride in a game well
played — both on and off the ice.
“We’re hoping to help change the
odds, so all kids with cancer
can win.”
The games were a lot of fun. Players from
different SAWHA teams were able to meet
and play in a fun environment.
“We hope to do it again in the future,” says
Paul.
4
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca

Keith’s shave — a work of heart
Favourite Friends
Keith Cole shaved his locks and beard to support KCCFA kids and families, raising more than $1,400 and lots of laughs from friends.
“If I could take the pain of just one of the kids in this world, I would, but I
can’t, so the very least I can do is lose a little hair.”
Keith Cole fell in love at a Stampeder’s football
game — with a custom-built Stamps chopper
and with the idea of raising money for childhood
cancer care.
It was love at first sight.
“That was a nice bike,” says Keith. “I think I
bought 15 or so tickets, and then thought ‘I
can do more.’”
And so he did.
On January 21, Keith shaved his lid and beard.
Photo courtesy of the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine
Asked why he decided to chop his locks, Keith
modestly replies: “I’m not a doctor or a
scientist so I can’t help that way, and unfortunately
I’m not rich, so I can’t pay for the things
these kids and their families need and deserve.
If I could take the pain of just one of the kids
in this world, I would, but I can’t, so the very
least I can do is lose a little hair.”
Unfortunately for Keith, he did not win the
chopper but what Keith’s shave raised was
more than $1,400, plenty of admiration and
more than a few eyebrows!
Photo courtesy of Keith Cole
U of C med
students raze
the roof for
KCCFA
University of Calgary
medical students
organized their fourth
annual Head for a Cure
shave April 11, raising
$10,000 for KCCFA
programs.
With a boom box
pumping and onlookers
watching, about 20
people participated.
First-year med student
Sunita Swaminathan was
the biggest draw, raising
almost $4,200 with the
support of friends and
family.
“I decided to shave my
head because cancer
has touched so many
people in my life,” says
Sunita. “One family
friend has been fighting
through chemotherapy
and was devastated to
lose her hair. I knew this
was a great opportunity
to begin to understand
what she was going
through and to contribute
somehow.”
In Head for a Cure’s
four-year history, U of C
med students have
raised more than
$63,000 for cancer
research and support
programs.
U of C med students Mike Bristow, Shandra Doran and Sunita Swaminathan shaved their
lids April 11 and raised $10,000 for KCCFA programs.
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca
5

Here comes
the sun!
KCCFA summer
camps
Camp SunRise
Ages 3-7
July 17-21 and July 24-28
(Edmonton,
Bennett Centre)
July 31-August 4 and
August 8-11 (Calgary,
Killarney/Glengarry
Community Association)
Camp SunRise gives
young children a chance
to experience camp life
without having to leave
mom and dad for too
long. Camps in Calgary
and Edmonton offer
young ones enough
games, songs, special
guests and day trips to
leave them smiling all
summer. Young campers
also get a taste of big-kid
camp life by staying for
an overnight campout.
Geoff Williams
Camp & Community Outreach
Slippery slopes prove fun for everyone
Fresh-faced smiles and laughter filled the night air at SunDance’s first-ever
Family Ski Night.
The SunDance family program took to the hills
last February and down the slippery slopes of
Canada Olympic Park (COP) for KCCFA’s
first-ever Family Ski Night. With 27 families and
more than 100 participants, the ski night was
one of SunDance’s biggest programs ever.
Parents, teens and kids strapped on their skis
and snowboards for an evening of great turns,
big air, laughter and lots of fun. The Village Day
Lodge was open for those seeking warmth or
fleeing ski escapades. Families also enjoyed a
chance to explore COP’s Olympic Hall of Fame
and Museum.
The night was filled with big smiles and great
stories! For some, the ski night was their first
skiing or snowboarding experience. Many
parents were picking up the sport again after
long absences — and, from what we hear,
paying dearly for it the next day. For some
Teens and kids relished
the opportunity to show
up KCCFA staff. Shouts
of “Chicken!” were heard
throughout the night air.
families, the night at COP was their first
chance to ski after long and difficult treatment
programs. The excitement was contagious.
Teens and kids relished the opportunity to
show up KCCFA staff. Shouts of “Chicken!”
were heard throughout the night air.
Family Ski Night was made possible by COP
staff. More than twenty snowboard and ski
instructors from the ski school donated their
time to teach KCCFA staff and families.
Instruction was first-class. Canada Olympic
Park also generously donated lift passes,
provided free meeting space and free admission
to the Hall of Fame.
Special thanks to Canada Olympic Park, Scott
Bailey, head of COP’s ski school, and the
Herauf family for making the night possible and
for providing KCCFA families with an experience
they won’t forget.
To register or for more information on Camp SunRise, contact Kelly Kerr at 403.216.9210 ext. 231 or
kerr@kidscancercare.ab.ca. or visit www.kidscancercare.ab.ca. To volunteer at KCCFA summer camps,
contact Barbara Smeltzer at 403.216.9210 ext. 222 or smeltzer@kidscancercare.ab.ca or visit our website.
6
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca

Camp & Community Outreach
All that GROWs is gold
Olympic gold medalist gives key note address at YAC 2006
Edmonton, here we come!
Young adults from all corners of the province
descended on the capital city February 23 to
26 for the fifth annual KCCFA Young Adult
Conference (YAC). Designed for youth aged
15 to 20 whose lives have been touched by
cancer, the conference theme was GROW.
Lori-Ann Muenser, Canadian Olympic gold
medalist in short track cycling in the 2004
Athens Games, gave the keynote address,
sharing strategies on overcoming adversity
through smart goal setting. She also gave
delegates a rare opportunity to hold an
Olympic gold medal.
Focusing on personal growth and development,
GROW featured sessions on preparing
for university, exploring career possibilities,
managing stress, healthy eating, volunteerism,
moving on from cancer, leadership and creative
expression.
Conference delegates enjoyed ample opportunity
for creative expression and recreation
with a trip to the West Edmonton Mall’s
Fantasy Land and Water Park, a dance at
Kidtropolis, hosted by the DJ Fish — better
YAC delegates enjoy a night on the town.
Olympic gold medalist Lori-Ann Muenser gave YAC delegates a
golden opportunity to hold an Olympic gold medal.
known as KCCFA’s own Dustin Salisbury —
and a hypnotist show by JayDee Hypnotist.
Who knew you could convince 12
people they were the Easter Bunny?
Guests from across Canada joined
the delegates at the conference.
Amanda Miller, a guest from B.C.’s
cancer survivor group took part in
the conference as delegate and
presenter. Kourtney and Kelly Otter
of Camp Trillium in Ontario also
participated at GROW.
KCCFA and Kids with Cancer
(KWC) of Edmonton organized the
conference. KCCFA staff enjoyed
partnering with KWC and thank Val
Figliuzzi and her staff at KWC for
their hard work and ingenuity.
To register or for more information on SunMaker or SunSeeker, contact Tim Ireland at 403.216.9210
ext. 229 or ireland@kidscancercare.ab.ca or visit www.kidscancercare.ab.ca.
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca
More summer
fun!
Camp SunMaker
Ages 7-17
July 17-22, July 24-29,
July 31-August 5,
August 7-12
Easter Seals Camp
Horizon, Kananaskis
Country
Camp SunMaker gives
youth a chance to get out
of the city and into some
serious fun. Activities
include rafting, wall
climbing, swimming,
adventure courses, dances,
campfires, day hikes, skits
and silly camp songs.
Camp SunSeeker
Ages 14-17
July 17-22, July 24-29,
July 31-August 5
River Cove Group
Campground, Kananaskis
Country
Camp SunSeeker offers
teens adventure-based
camping experiences that
test their limits and
develop their leadership
skills. For new SunSeekers,
KCCFA offers three sixday
sessions with activities
such as rafting, rock
climbing, hiking, scrambling
and mountain biking.
SunSeeker
Extended Leadership
Development
August 16 - 28
For teens who have
participated in a KCCFA
leadership development
program, KCCFA offers an
extended SunSeeker trip
to B.C., where they will
enjoy two weeks of sea
kayaking, backpacking and
mountain biking.
7

2006 summer
volunteer
opportunities
Volunteer at a weeklong
summer camp, a stampede
breakfast, a golf
tournament, a gala dinner,
a shave or a casino. Fun,
laughter and great eats
await you!
Our People
Brent, Cassidy and the SunMaker kids
John Manuel
Summer camps
July through August
- Oncology nurses
- Registered nurses
- Counsellors
- EMS personnel
- One-to-one aides
Fundraising events
Roger’s Chomp &
Stomp
Wednesday, July 5
Gerlitz Ranch -
Transportation provided
Don, Joanne and the
Coach Golf a Kid to
Camp Tournament
Thursday, August 10
Cottonwood Golf Club
Toromont AirX
Charity Golf Classic
Thursday, August 17
Redwood Meadows Golf
Course
Casino Fundraiser
September 14 and 15
Casino Calgary
Bow Valley
Golf Tournament
Tuesday, September 19
Valley Ridge Golf Club
To volunteer, visit Volunteers at
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca or
contact Barb Smeltzer at
403.216.9210 ext. 222 or
smeltzer@kidscancercare.ab.ca.
Calgary paramedic Brent Chiswell is a five-year KCCFA
veteran volunteer.
Some say all that matters at the end of your life
is whether or not you made a difference in a
child’s life. Brent Chiswell, a Calgary paramedic
and five-year veteran of our camps, and Cassidy
Wyntjes, who made his debut in the summer of
2005, would have to agree.
Their KCCFA camp experiences impacted
them immensely — on personal and professional
levels.
Brent Chiswell has been to camp regularly
since 2001, when he was first enticed by a
KCCFA volunteer recruitment poster.
“I could write an essay about how much I enjoy
my experience,” says Brent Chiswell. “Seeing
the smiles and the enjoyment on the campers’
faces, the dedication of KCCFA and Camp
Horizon staff and the rest of the volunteers
make it all worthwhile.”
Since becoming involved with KCCFA, Brent
has learned to cherish every day and laugh
more often.
Rookie volunteer, Cassidy Wyntjes, got his first
taste of camp last year at SunMaker where he
provided medical support as an EMT.
Coincidently, he’d worked with Brent in the
past and was at camp the same week. Cassidy
was attracted to KCCFA because it gave him
the opportunity to work with kids outside the
hospital setting.
Cassidy Wyntjes provides medical support as an EMT at
KCCFA summer camps.
“I love to play,” says Cassidy. “Going to camp as
a volunteer with all the kids sounded like a lot
of fun. And it was!”
Camp was an eye-opening experience for
Cassidy. In fact, the experience was so pivotal,
he changed his career plans.
“I could write an essay
about how much I enjoy my
experience. Seeing the
smiles and the enjoyment
on the campers’ faces, the
dedication of KCCFA and
Camp Horizon staff and
the rest of the volunteers
make it all worthwhile.”
“Originally I was hoping to continue
with Emergency Medicine,” Cassidy
says, “but after my experience at camp I’ve
decided to direct my studies towards pediatric
oncology.”
Cassidy was accepted into Mount Royal
College’s Bachelor of Science Nursing program
and will begin his studies this fall.
8
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca

Our People
A fine balance
Tracey Huddy is KCCFA’s outreach coordinator
If you haven’t already met Tracey Huddy at one
of KCCFA’s programs, you may just run into
her at the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH),
where she meets with families at Pizza Nights
and introduces them to KCCFA programs.
Tracey is KCCFA’s outreach coordinator,
responsible for organizing a variety of groupand
individual-based services for children and
Many of Tracey’s program’s are geared
for parents, who, on-call 24/7, supporting
their sick child, often put their
own health and wellbeing on hold.
Every Wednesday night parents of
childhood cancer survivors host a
weekly pizza night at the Alberta
Children’s Hospital. Parents in different
stages of the cancer journey are able
Unique Perspectives Artistic Photography
“Each person or family is different. I help connect families to
KCCFA programs, so my role really depends on the needs of
each person.”
families affected by cancer. Fortunately for
KCCFA kids and families, Tracey embodies a
perfect balance of high-energy go-getter and
empathetic listener.
A registered social worker and a graduate of
MRC’s Disabilities Studies Program, Tracey has
spearheaded several new wellness and
outreach programs since coming on board at
KCCFA a year ago. The programs run the
recreational and emotional gamut, from
providing informal one-on-one support for
family members to heading up the Young Adult
Alumni program.
Tracey works closely with the Child Life Team
at the ACH, delivering KCCFA wellness bags.
Every newly diagnosed child receives a
wellness bag with age-appropriate activities
such as toys, comic books, crossword puzzles
and journals to help give kids a lift and make
their hospital stay a little easier.
Tracey is also developing an important collaborative
initiative between the Kids Cancer Care
Foundation and Unit 57 of the Foothills
Medical Centre. The Young Adult Visitation
Program will help build a support network for
newly diagnosed young adults or young adults
with a history of cancer now moving into the
adult cancer system.
to connect and be there for one
another. Tracey is onhand to answer
questions about KCCFA and its
programs.
Sometimes, parent get-togethers turn into
parent get-aways. Parent Nights offer parents a
much-needed break from caretaking with free
outings to local arts and sporting events.
“Each person or family is different,” says Tracey.
“I help connect families to KCCFA programs,
so my role really depends on the needs of each
person.”
As Tracey continues to build new relationships
with community support services, she looks
forward to working closer with social workers
at the hospital.
Tracey also understands the importance of that
delicate balance between work and personal
life. She regularly finds time for her own
wellbeing. A day in the mountains, hiking or
sketching, or spending time with loved ones,
helps reenergize Tracey. And, one day, she
promises, “I’ll learn to play that blues guitar,
sitting in the corner of my bedroom. I will, if it’s
the last thing I do.”
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca
Fortunately for KCCFA kids and
families, Tracey embodies a
perfect balance of high-energy
go-getter and empathetic listener.
For more information on
outreach and wellness
programs, visit
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca or
contact Tracey at 403.216.9210
ext. 233 or
huddy@kidscancercare.ab.ca.
9

Perspectives
L-R Elly, Melissa and Karisa
thrive at KCCFA teen camps.
Melissa’s story — school and childhood cancer
School’s out — well, almost — and young
people across the province are preparing
to graduate and move on to new adventures.
Melissa Michielsen, an 18-year-old KCCFA
camper and survivor of childhood cancer,
is one of many Alberta teens preparing to
graduate this month. She’s heading to
Lethbridge Community College this fall with
plans to transfer to university to become a
teacher.
But for Melissa, and many other childhood
cancer survivors, getting through school and
on the road to new adventures — whether
it’s summer camp or summer jobs, university
or college — can be a long, arduous
journey.
Melissa was diagnosed with acute lymphotic
leukemia at age two. When other young children
were beginning to socialize outside the family,
Melissa was retreating — isolated and hospitalized
for cancer treatments. Her treatments included
chemotherapy, full-body radiation and a
bone marrow transplant.
By age five, Melissa had endured more medical
treatment than most experience in an entire lifetime.
But, still, this
was good news.
Melissa had finished
her treatments in
time for school. She
could go to school
with kids her own
age.
Being a cancer survivor
in elementary
school was not a big
deal, but junior high was an entirely different
matter. In junior high, many of Melissa’s classmates
were heavily involved in sports. Shut out of sports
because of the long term effects of full-body radiation,
Melissa became increasingly stigmatized
as the “cancer kid.” Radiation fuses the growth
plates, and inhibits normal bone growth, so Melissa
was small for her age. Her toughest days were
track and field. Events that were fun for most
kids served only to intensify her loneliness.
Thankfully for Melissa, one teacher recognized
her isolation and offered her a way out by providing
her a way in with her peers. The volleyball
coach invited her to join the team as team manager.
Melissa thrived in the role and the sense of
community it brought.
KCCFA camps were also a source of support
and companionship for Melissa. At camp, she
made lifelong friends with kids from across the
province. Melissa maintains that kids often make
closer connections at camp than they do at
school with classmates.
“We all belong at camp,” says Melissa. “Patients
and siblings all know what it’s like to go through
cancer and we’re there for each other.”
Melissa and her father Joe maintain that being
from a small town heightens the sense of isolation
and loneliness, so camp becomes all the more
important for kids in rural areas.
“Friendships are very special,” says Joe. “And
camps provide opportunities for these close
friends to come together.”
Joe also notes a subtle but all-too-natural outcome
of Melissa’s cancer experience. As caring
parents, Bernadette and Joe Michielsen became
overprotective of
both their children.
As a result,
Joe points out,
“Melissa became
super spoiled.” He
urges parents to
avoid being overprotective
as their
kids go through
treatments.
“We all belong at camp. Patients and siblings
all know what it’s like to go through cancer
and we’re there for each other.”
“Treat them like normal kids,” Joe says. “If you
treat them differently, others will see them as
different and will treat them differently as they
grow.”
As for Melissa, who is embracing her future, she
encourages her friends to keep looking to the
future in difficult times.
“When you are sad or if things look bad, always
look ahead.”
10
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca

Research
The anti-leukemic benefits of red wine
Dr. Steve Robbins shares new cancer research at 2006 Parents’ Quest for a Cure
The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta
hosted the annual Parents’ Quest for Cure gala
last February, raising more than $75,000 for
childhood cancer research.
Dr. Steve Robbins, a childhood cancer researcher
at the University of Calgary, shared
with the audience some of the latest advances
in cancer research taking place in Calgary.
These discoveries show tremendous progress.
We’d like to share with you these discoveries
and the hope they offer.
Excerpts from Dr. Robbins’s speech
2006 Parents’ Quest for a Cure
It’s an exciting time at U of C’s Faculty of
Medicine. As many of you know, we’re currently
building the Health Research Innovation Centre
(HRIC), a facility that will house some of the
country’s leading researchers. The HRIC will be
home to the Children’s Cancer Research
Centre (CCRC), where basic scientists and
physicians will collaborate daily, forming a
vibrant research milieu, ideal for discovery. The
CCRC’s vision is to create a collaborative
environment that will bring the latest research
discoveries from the lab directly to the bedside
of patients.
Patient passports
Working together, CCRC scientists and
physicians will create a patient passport for
each child, containing critical information for
predicting the outcome of given therapy. These
passports will eventually form a comprehensive
database of cancer types, treatment strategies
and outcomes, which will allow us to compare
cancers that respond to certain therapies with
those that don’t. Over time, the database will
help provide scientists and physicians with the
customized information they need to treat
specific cancers.
New discoveries
That’s a broad overview of our plans for the
CCRC. Now let me provide you with a snapshot
of three recent discoveries that are
advancing our understanding of childhood
cancer and helping develop new therapies for
children today.
U of C researchers serendipitously found that a compound in
red wine has anti-leukemic properties.
Anti-leukemic properties of red wine
First, scientists in my laboratory serendipitously
discovered that a compound found in red wine
has anti-leukemic properties. Using the chemical
structure of this red wine compound as a
baseline, we worked with a medicinal chemist
to produce and test 40 new compounds for
treating different cancers. Although we are far
from using these compounds in clinics and
hospitals, this discovery offers great promise
and is currently being tested in animal models.
Clearly a lot of people here tonight are
discovering the benefits of this new red wine
treatment — whether for its medicinal value
or recreational pleasure.
To read more about advances in cancer research at
U of C, see Dr. Steve Robbins’s Parents’ Quest for a
Cure gala speech at wwwkidscancercare.ab.ca.
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca
Photo courtesy of Calgary Health Region
Childhood
cancer in
Canada: then
and now
• Mortality rates for
childhood cancer have
declined by more than
50 per cent since the
1950s
• 40 years ago, essentially
no one survived
childhood leukemia
• Today, 80 per cent of
young people with
acute lymphoblastic
leukemia are alive five
years after diagnosis
• Every year, 1,289
Canadian children are
diagnosed with cancer
• Every year, 231
Canadian children die
from the disease
• Leukemia accounts for
26 per cent of new
childhood cancer
cases and 30 per cent
of deaths
• Leukemia remains the
most common
childhood cancer
• A shift toward
multidisciplinary care
has improved outcomes
and decreased
morbidity rates.
National Cancer Institute of
Canada: Canadian Cancer
Statistics 2004
www.ncic.cancer.ca
11

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JACK PERRATON, C.M, QC, CHAIR
JACKIE ALTWASSER
CRISPIN ARTHUR
PATTIE CULVER
CINDY GIBSON
A. JONI HUGHES
DR. RANDY JOHNSTON
BOB MILLAR
DR. SUSAN LEES-MILLER
JENNIFER SALMON
BRAD STEVENS
DR. DOUG STROTHER
Community Fundraising Events
STAFF TEAM
CHRISTINE WANDZURA, M.S.M., CFRE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
GAIL CORBETT
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
SARA FOSTER
EVENT COORDINATOR
TRACEY HUDDY
OUTREACH COORDINATOR
TIM IRELAND
COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
KRISTINA KEITH
EVENT COORDINATOR
KELLY KERR
COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
MIKE MACKAY
DIRECTOR, CAMP & COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
CANDICE MARTIN
MANAGER, COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
TRISH MATHESON, CFRE
DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT &
COMMUNICATION
JANICE MCLEOD
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
JODI MCNABB, CFRE
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
BARBARA SMELTZER
MANAGER OF VOLUNTEERS
SUMMER CONTRACTS
JENNETTE ALLUM
SUNSEEKER COORDINATOR
MARK FRASER
EVENT ASSISTANT
KAITLIN IANNNUZZI
CAMP ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Trico Homes Ride for a Lifetime
Friday June 23 - Sunday, June 25, 2006
Calgary - Jasper - Kamloops - Calgary
Registration fee $500 each for riders and
passengers.
Scenic mountain highways and nothing but open
road awaits you. Registration includes accommodation
and meals.
Don, Joanne and the Coach
Golf a Kid to Camp Tournament
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Cottonwood Golf Club
7 a.m. breakfast start
Registration fee $500
The 12th Annual Golf a Kid to Camp Tournament,
hosted by Don, Joanne and the Coach, is just
around the corner. The tournament sells out
every year so reserve your spot today!
Bow Valley Club Annual Golf Tournament
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Valley Ridge Golf Club
Registration 8 a.m.
Shotgun 10 a.m.
Registration fee $175
Registration for general public opens June 30
Join the Bow Valley Club for a day of golf at
Valley Ridge.
Big Wig Challenge
Fall 2006
Time and location TBA
KCCFA is challenging some of our city’s top
executives to shave their lids for kids in the
2006 Big Wig Challenge. Stay tuned for details
on which top dogs are taking a little off the
top.
Proceeds from community fundraising events go to
KCCFA camp, research and clinical care programs.
To find out more about these events or to register,
sponsor or pledge online, visit Fundraising Events at
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca and follow the links.
To volunteer at our community fundraising events,
visit Volunteers at www.kidscancercare.ab.ca.
We appreciate the opportunity to communicate with you about KCCFA’s activities; however, if you would like to alter the
amount or type of mail you receive, please call us at 403.216.9210, ext. 227 or email staff@kidscancercare.ab.ca.
Canadian Publications Agreement #4004962
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:
Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta
609 - 14 Street N.W., Suite 302
Calgary, AB T2N 2A1
P 403.216.9210
F 403.216.9215
Toll Free (Alberta) 1.888.554.2267
12
www.kidscancercare.ab.ca