George R. Buchanan, M.D.

Medical Director, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children’s Medical Center

Professor of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Children’s Cancer Fund Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Oncology and Hematology

Barrett Family Center for Pediatric Oncology Director

Dear Friends,

In 1981 the parents of four children with cancer treated at Children’s Medical Center wanted to establish a major research center in Dallas with the goal of understanding the causes of childhood cancer and improving its treatment. In those days cure rates were 50 percent at best, and despite the strong clinical care program at Children’s and UT Southwestern, research was not a major priority.

By early 1982, the Children’s Cancer Fund was created. Today Children’s Cancer Fund is one of the nation’s leading fund-raising groups supporting local research to treat and prevent childhood cancer. Many millions of dollars have been raised, and research conducted in Dallas has benefited children with cancer in the North Texas community as well as around the world.

Now overall cure rates are near 80 percent. However, cures to some childhood cancers have had minimal increased success rate and many of these cures come with a price – chronic and/or severe health problems caused by cancer and treatments. We must continue to look for better therapies, so that these children can have long, healthy lives. Dollars raised by Children’s Cancer Fund can help in creating this success story.

We are grateful for 27 years of support and encouragement from Children’s Cancer Fund. Research conducted at Children’s and UT Southwestern has brought us closer to our goal, but, until every child with cancer is cured, the battle is not yet won. Please open your hearts. Join us in the fight to eliminate cancer as the most common disease that causes death in children.

Sincerely yours,

George R. Buchanan, M.D.

Medical Director, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders,

Children’s Medical Center

Professor of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Children’s Cancer Fund Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Oncology and Hematology

Barrett Family Center for Pediatric Oncology Director