Young Girl Sells Cupcakes to Raise Money for Cancer Center Research, Supports Clinical Trials for Rare Cancers Including Mesothelioma and Thyroid Cancer
A five-year-old girl who witnessed firsthand the physical and emotional toll a rare disease can take on a family also learned that cancer research that is critical for finding new treatments for incurable and aggressive diseases takes a lot of money. Wanting to do something in memory of her uncle who died from medullary cancer of the thyroid, the girl started baking and selling cupcakes and giving all proceeds to Premiere Oncology in Santa Monica where her uncle was treated and participated in a clinical trial. Medullary cancer shares the “rare disease” distinction with malignant mesothelioma, an asbestos-related pulmonary cancer, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS and close to 7,000 other cancers and diseases.
Many of the rare or orphan diseases, designated as such when less than 200,000 Americans are affected by the disease at any given time, afflict so few people that research can be challenging as well as time-consuming. In the case of mesothelioma and other rare cancers, many researchers rely on funding from private sources to run their clinical trials and to ensure continuous funding throughout the project.
Inspired by the cooking show “Ace of Cakes,” the young girl suggested to her parents that instead of simply donating money to Premiere they raise money through selling cupcakes for the cause. The family baked the cupcakes and decorated them with bright-blue frosting and white-chocolate shells, a tropical theme in honor of her uncle’s love of everything tropical.
This year they held a “Cupcakes and Cocktails” fundraiser with a social mixer and prize drawings. Over the last two years, the family has donated $3,000 to Premiere Oncology through cupcake sales. For her efforts, the now seven-year-old was presented with a recognition award for outstanding achievement, community service and fundraising efforts on behalf of the Premiere Oncology Foundation.
For the thousands of patients diagnosed in the United States each year with mesothelioma and other rare cancers, clinical trials and ongoing research is the key to finding the breakthrough that can mean the difference between life and death. Finding new and unique ways to fund the research will continue to raise awareness of the diseases and the need to give back to the medical community.
Premiere Oncology is currently conducting 17 clinical trials and has completed close to 70. Premiere has closed a Phase I trial to determine the safety and tolerability of TRC102 when given in combination with Alimta to non-small lung cancer and mesothelioma patients.
According to Premiere Oncology’s website they are “a center of excellence dedicated to treating cancer by providing comprehensive and holistic clinical care with attention to issues of survivorship and longevity.” The center’s research arm has a goal of offering “cutting edge treatment to patients while generating data of the highest quality.”
