Tag Archive for: rare pediatric cancer

MIBG Ambassador: Melissa Scanlon

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Gemma & Melissa Scanlon

Last year, a little girl named Gemma Scanlon was diagnosed with Wilms tumor (a pediatric kidney cancer) on her 3rd birthday.  Instead of blowing out candles, the Scanlon’s family was faced with their daughter having cancer.  

Gemma received amazing care at Levine Children’s Hospital.  Dr. Pope and her team took care of their family with compassion and made a very difficult time so much easier.  The Scanlon’s were very grateful that their daughter’s cancer responded well to treatment, and just over one year they are seeing clear CT scans.

“I know the reason we have a great treatment protocol is because someone else raised money, did clinical trials and built facilities because the funding is sadly very limited.  It’s our turn to help the families that don’t have good options yet.  The ISF MIBG Ambassador program is designed to do just that.” 

Melissa is one of our MIBG Ambassadors through the Isabella Santos Foundation, fundraising to help make a difference. She is committed to help raise $5,000, knowing that it will help other families who are battling pediatric cancers right here in Charlotte.

“You can literally see the MIBG room being built uptown.  Kids in the Carolinas battling cancer will have better options for treatment here at home and that is awesome.”

MIBG Ambassador

Levine Children’s Hospital will now be 1 of 20 hospitals (and the first in the region) to have a MIBG Treatment room in the U.S.  The two-room MIBG suite, which will include a lead-lined patient room and an anteroom for parents and caregivers, will provide targeted radiation to pediatric neuroblastoma patients and other rare pediatric cancers with minimal side effects.  As the new MIBG treatment suite continues to progress under construction, we want to ensure that we are preparing for the kids and families who will be entering this program.  New in 2018, we have developed a fundraising program focused on MIBG Therapy – the MIBG Ambassador.  Our goal for 2018 is to have 20 members collectively raising $100,000 for this initiative.  If you are interested in becoming an MIBG Ambassador, please email info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.  

Fundraising for a Cure

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Isabella’s Dream Team, Danni Volman

The ISF Dream Team consists of all types of runners . . . some who have never run before, some who run a race here or there, some who want to strive to obtain a dream they have never achieved, and some who are passionate runners every day.  The uniqueness of Isabella’s Dream Team is what makes it a “DREAM TEAM.”  We celebrate everyone’s achievements . . . including a pretty special person, Danielle “Danni” Volman.

Danni was 4 years old when her mom found out she had breast cancer and leukemia.  Two years later, her mom passed away.  No one can fathom losing their mom, but especially at such a young age.  Danni grew up convinced she wanted to do anything and everything to help find a cure for cancer.  

Through her elementary, middle and high school years, Danni used her love for math and sports to fundraise to help find a cure.  During this time, a teacher at her high school had a daughter who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.  Danni coordinated a 5k for the school, embracing the power of many to give support and love to this precious little girl. Not only is the little girl still alive today, but she continues to impact Danni’s life to never stop fundraising for cancer.

When Danni learned about the Isabella Santos Foundation, she knew she was going to be involved – – somehow, someway.  She already had neuroblastoma affect her life, and she knew she could help make an impact.  

Danni joined the ISF Dream Team in 2014, still using her love for math and sports to help fundraise for crushing cancer.  She accomplished many races over the last several years.  In 2017, Danni qualified and finished the Boston Marathon for the very first time.   Even though the weather for the 2017 Boston Marathon was the worst weather in its history (30mph winds, 37 degrees, and pouring rain!), Danni completed a dream of hers.  The ISF Dream Team is so proud of you Danni!     

Danni has collectively raised over $85,000 for cancer research, and she is on track for hitting a personal goal this year for the Isabella Santos Foundation – $20,000.  She only needs $2500 to hit this goal.  Let’s cheer her on and make a donation in honor of her mom.

Click on Danni’s First Giving page to make a donation: https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/danni/2018-Isabella-s-Dream-Team

Read Dream Team Member Features

ISF Dream Team

The ISF Dream Team, created in 2014, is a running group that assists you in training to run the race of your dreams.  You can train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, half marathon relay, full marathon relay, or a full marathon.  You are provided a training schedule, invited to group runs, and inspired by a phenomenal team of people.  Not only will you meet a dynamic group of people, but you will also be inspired through your friends and family as they support you through the training.  The ISF Dream Team has raised over $400,000 to date, with the funds contributing to our local Charlotte community.  If you want to join the ISF Dream Team, we would love to hear from you.  Please email us at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.

 

Inspiring Others to Live Mutual

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By Tim Flanagan, President of MassMutual Carolinas, 2018 ISF Sustaining Sponsor

Tim Flanagan and Caitlin Flanagan at the ISF 5K/10K for Kids Cancer

MassMutual Carolinas is proud to be a Sustaining Sponsor of the Isabella Santos Foundation. As a General Agency of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), we are backed by a mutually owned company that has helped people keep their promises, protect their families, and support their communities since 1851. MassMutual calls it Living Mutual, and it’s in their DNA. Ours too: along with MassMutual, we have been committed to serving our clients and giving back to our community since our doors first opened in 1890.

We pride ourselves on living out our core values – balance, growth, authenticity, conviction and stewardship – and ensuring that our clients have a secure financial future and protect the ones they love. Through this and living mutual, we are committed to inspiring others to rely on one another, give back, be interdependent to achieve happiness, make meaningful contributions and to be interconnected with our families, community and workplace.

The concept of living mutual is the core of our involvement with ISF. I have felt personally connected with the organization from day one when I ran – along with Caitlin Flanagan, my daughter and our firm’s strategic relationship manager – my first ISF 5K/10K for Kids Cancer. We hit the ground running in our support of this incredible organization and never looked back. Since then, many of our team members have gotten involved, followed by our firm becoming a Sustaining Sponsor in 2017.

The Isabella Santos Foundation is an upstanding and authentic organization that we value and believe in for many reasons. We appreciate being part of this amazing team, seeing where the funds are going in our community, and being inspired by the faces of who ISF supports. Through our partnership with ISF, we are relying on one another to make a meaningful contribution and impact on pediatric cancer research and patients. That’s a powerful way to live mutual.

Visit the MassMutual Carolinas website

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Timothy C. Flanagan, Jr., CLU, ChFC, CFP®, ChSNC™, CFBS, President of MassMutual Carolinas, is a registered representative of and offers securities, investment advisory and financial planning services through MML Investors Services, LLC Member SIPC (www.SIPC.org). Supervisory Office: 4350 Congress Street Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28209 (704) 557-9600. Parent Financial is not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, LLC. CRN202008-235692

No Equipment Needed

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Brian Levy, Isabella’s Dream Team

Brian Levy has always been athletic, but he has not always been a runner.  He grew up playing ice hockey and transitioned to mountain biking.  Over time, he realized it was easy to just go on a run.  No equipment needed.  No class required.  He trained for a couple of 5Ks, and he eventually ran his first half marathon.  He was hooked.

As he continued to grow in to his love of running, he learned about the Isabella Santos Foundation through his fiancé.  Since Brian runs by himself, she encouraged him to check in to the ISF Dream Team so he could share his passion with others and run with a group of people.  He knew immediately it was something he wanted to do.

Last year, Brian joined the ISF Dream Team.  Hearing everyone’s inspirational stories kept him motivated to keep training and keep pushing himself.  He accomplished several races while training with the Dream Team:  Chicago Marathon, Rock and Roll Marathon in Savannah, two Half Ironman Triathlons, and the ISF 10k. WOW! 

With that said, we are truly honored to have Brian Levy leading the ISF Dream Team this year.  As he is striving to accomplish his goals (qualify for the Boston Marathon), he knows he is accomplishing even a bigger role (making a bigger contribution in the fight against cancer).  

“I know that my strengths are with training and coaching other athletes.  I’m looking forward to helping other runners achieve their goals of training for their big race and in the process, introducing more people to ISF.” 

Brian is making a difference, in so many ways.  Running.  Leading the ISF Dream Team runs.  Fundraising for ISF.  “I know my contribution in the fight against cancer is small in the grand scheme of things but I think that’s what it’s all about.  A lot of people making small contributions can make a big difference.  Every time I am out there running in my Dream Team shirt or talking to people about races about ISF, that’s my little contribution to the big fight.”

Thank you Brian for leading the ISF Dream Team.  Let’s help Brian meet his goals this year by supporting him through his First Giving page:  https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/teamba/2018-Isabella-s-Dream-Team

ISF Dream Team

The ISF Dream Team, created in 2014, is a running group that assists you in training to run the race of your dreams.  You can train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, half marathon relay, full marathon relay, or a full marathon.  You are provided a training schedule, invited to group runs, and inspired by a phenomenal team of people.  Not only will you meet a dynamic group of people, but you will also be inspired through your friends and family as they support you through the training.  The ISF Dream Team has raised over $400,000 to date, with the funds contributing to our local Charlotte community.  If you want to join the ISF Dream Team, we would love to hear from you.  Please email us at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.

 

We Run to Crush Cancer

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It’s always good to keep things in perspective.  Ask yourself why?  Why do you do the things you do?  Why are certain things important to you?  

We asked our Dream Team members at the beginning of this season . . . what is your why?  Why do you run?  Why are you a part of the ISF Dream Team?  Why do you help fundraise?  Here are some answers we received. . . .  

  • To support those who know Isabella and to fight cancer . . . duh!
  • To put a purpose behind my running.
  • I run for ISF to inspire more kids to give back.
  • I run to crush cancer for my mom, Mackenzie who beat Neuroblastoma, and for Isabella.
  • I run because no parent should ever lose their child to cancer.
  • To make a difference of the lives of people fighting cancer.
  • I’m running on the Dream Team because I want to help raise money for kids with cancer and it’s a good mark to leave.

We run to CRUSH CANCER.  Come run with us this Saturday!

Run with Isabella’s Dream Team this Saturday, August 18th.  You can join us at either run listed below.

ISF Dream Team

The ISF Dream Team, created in 2014, is a running group that assists you in training to run the race of your dreams.  You can train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, half marathon relay, full marathon relay, or a full marathon.  You are provided a training schedule, invited to group runs, and inspired by a phenomenal team of people.  Not only will you meet a dynamic group of people, but you will also be inspired through your friends and family as they support you through the training.  The ISF Dream Team has raised over $400,000 to date, with the funds contributing to our local Charlotte community.  If you want to join the ISF Dream Team, we would love to hear from you.  Please email us at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.