
CNY Raises Amazing Record Amount For St Jude
Your generosity helped break records AGAIN this year. You won't believe how much was raised for the kids at St Jude.
Day One broke a record, raising nearly thousands more than last year.
$32,730
That's what you helped raise to fight childhood cancer on the first day. You can still become a Partner in Hope online.
Day Two
The trend continued for Day Two. Everyone came together to raise close to $80,000 for the 2023 Country Cares St Jude Radiothon, presented by Drain Masters.
$87,135
You can still give online if you didn't get a chance during the two-day radiothon.
Who You Help
Your support is helping save kids' lives from around the world, including right here in Central New York. Several children are living healthy, happy lives thanks to the life-saving research being done at St Jude.
Ahmed Merdanovic
14-year-old Ahmed Merdanovic battled 4 brain surgeries before he even became a teenager for a softball-sized tumor in his brain. The fifth was the one that's helping save his life thanks to St Jude.
Ahmed spent 10 weeks at the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He'll return to St. Jude for a follow-up but mom is hopeful. "His residual brain tumor is small and stable," said Jennifer. "He continues to lead a happy, healthy life, enjoying school, friends, and family."
Anna Jones of Remsen
The future is bright for Anna Jones of Remsen who suffered a rare brain tumor when she was only 12 years old. She was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma after a fall but eight years later Anna remains cancer-free thanks to St Jude.
Anna returns to St Jude every year as part of their aftercare treatment program. "St. Jude is still our saving grace and a donation to St. Jude is a life saved, whether it’s with treatment or the research they share with the world."
Andrew Reppel of Utica
Doctors found cancer wrapped around Andrew Reppel's spine. St Jude created a new protocol to treat the Utica 6-year-old. That boy is now in his 20s and the Reppel family owes it all to St Jude. "I guess what I felt was thank you. Thank you Danny Thomas for being a man who made a difference," said Andrew's father, Stephen. "If you ever wondered if your dollar really did do what they say it does, I would tell you it does."
More Research
Treatments invented at St Jude Children's Research Hospital have pushed the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to over 80% since it opened in 1962. But St Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer like Colin in Ithaca and Zachary in Buffalo.
Colin Hayward
Colin Hayward of Ithaca was cancer-free for five years, enjoying life to the fullest and leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met. Unfortunately, he passed away peacefully on St Patrick's Day, March 17, 2017, surrounded by his family.
Even though St Jude couldn't save Colin from the tumor wrapped around his brain, his dad Ian says he'll always support the hospital and their mission, because they gave his family something no one else could. Time. "It's hard to put a dollar value on a life and time spent. St Jude gave me 9 more precious years with my son. How do you quantify that? As sick as Colin was, they were able to help him in a way where most of his life was miraculous."
Zachary Dievendorf
Zachary Dievendorf of Buffalo lived for 13 years. His memory lives on through his sister who became a nurse in Buffalo in his honor.
Zachary died from a rare tumor on his brain stem. But his family is grateful. Grateful they got 7 extra precious months thanks to St Jude Children's Research Hospital. "They were the best and worst months of our lives," said Zachary's sister Sarah. "We're just so grateful for St Jude and all the time they gave us. We were so fortunate to be with my brother when he took his last breath. He knew how much we loved him and we knew how much he loved us."
Sarah continues to keep his memory alive and raise awareness for the tumor that took his life. "There is no cure. They are still researching. They don't know much about it even after all these years. I'll keep fighting for every kid until there is no pediatric cancer."
Thank You Gifts
To thank you for supporting St Jude Children's Research Hospital and becoming a Partner in Hope with Care Net of Central New York, you'll have the honor of joining the country community with a 'This Shirt Saves Live ' t-shirt and your choice of tickets to see either the Harlem Globetrotters February 15 or FrogFest. A few Partners in Hope will get tickets to see Old Dominion in Albany, Luke Bryan, or Chris Stapleton in Syracuse.
Meet the Patients of St Jude Your Donation Helps Save
Gallery Credit: Credit - Polly McAdams
Country Stars Put on St. Jude's 'Love Music, Stop Cancer' Tees
Meet the Patients of St Jude Your Donation Helps Save
Gallery Credit: Credit - Polly McAdams
Country Stars Put on St. Jude's 'Love Music, Stop Cancer' Tees
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