FRIENDS FOR LIFE TO RAISE $1,000,000

FRIENDS FOR LIFE TO RAISE $1,000,000
TO ESTABLISH FELLOWSHIP AT THE DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE


NEEDHAM, MASS– “Friends for Life”, a dedicated group of people who are
passionate about raising funds for neroblastoma pediatric cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, recently committed to raising one million dollars to fully fund the “Friends for Life Neuroblastoma Endowed Fellowship”.
This fellowship will establish a permanent translational (from lab to bedside) research position under the direction of Dr. Lisa Diller of Pediatric Oncology at The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.


One spokesperson for the Friends for Life, Dr. Michael Dodd, explains,

“Two years ago, at the age of 19 months, my daughter Isabelle was
diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Today she is a happy and healthy 3 year old girl, thanks to the great care she received at the Jimmy Fund clinic and to the pediatric cancer research on-going at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.”

As recently as the 1970's there was no experimentally tested and proven treatment protocol for neuroblastoma. Thanks to recent research and the dedicated work of oncologists like Dr. Lisa Diller, 7 out of 10 children diagnosed with neuroblastoma will achieve remission of the disease.

"Unfortunately, neuroblastoma treatment is still only successful for some patients, and the patients who relapse have no good options for cure" explains Dr. Diller.

“Friends for Life” is committed to providing the funds to help change this.
The group has a five-year, $1million dollar fundraising goal, with $110,000 already raised.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of fourteen. Neuroblastoma occurs almost exclusively in children under the age of five and is the third most common type of cancer in children.


“Friends for Life” was created to advance pediatric cancer research and to
ensure the continuation of funding to expand the search for a cure for euroblastoma and all cancers.

Anyone interested in learning more about "Friends for Life" should contact

Denyse Dodd
617-872-6020
denysed@myfriendsforlife.com February 2003