Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities

Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities has been a committed supporter of cancer care at Children’s Memorial Hospital for more than two decades. Today, Children’s Memorial’s Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation is regarded as a national center of excellence in pediatric oncology and stem cell transplantation, treating a record 1,362 inpatients from all over the country in 2003. With CBCC’s support, Children’s Memorial Hospital continues to build a world-class cancer program that brings cutting-edge scientific discoveries to the bedside and provides compassionate family-focused care that takes into account the social, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families. The following are several of the critical clinical, research and family services programs that CBCC supports through philanthropy.

The Chicago White Sox Stem Cell Transplantation Program
The Chicago White Sox Stem Cell Transplantation Program features a state-of-the-art stem cell transplantation unit with six hepa-filtered positive pressure rooms, advanced monitoring equipment and the latest technology for caring for immunosuppressed patients. Since its establishment in 1992, the stem cell transplantation program has become one of the largest and most comprehensive clinical programs in the country, performing more than 70 stem cell transplants annually. A strong clinical and laboratory-based research agenda continues to improve outcomes and survival for children with devastating diseases, including leukemia, neuroblastoma and Wilms tumors.

Bill Veeck Pediatric Cancer Research Fund
Created in memory of Chicago baseball legend Bill Veeck, this fund supports cancer and bone marrow transplantation research and clinical testing of new treatments at Children’s Memorial. Promising areas of research supported by this fund include:

• discovery and trials of less toxic therapies and drug delivery systems for children with brain tumors
• innovative approaches to the treatment of chronic Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD), a life-threatening complication of stem cell transplantation affecting one in five transplant survivors
• study to evaluate the efficacy of a new treatment option called photopheresis in patients suffering from severe and refractory Chronic GVHD. Photopheresis works by exposing white blood cells to ultraviolet light and then reinfusing them back into the patient
• use of tandem stem cell transplants for children and adolescents with recurrent brain tumors who are chemotherapy sensitive

The Cancer Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, through its affiliation with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, stands as one of the nation’s leading programs. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Illinois and one of only 38 in the nation to hold this prestigious designation.

With CBCC’s support, the Cancer Program is making great strides. A new inpatient unit of 15 beds dedicated to oncology patients opened in the Feinberg pavilion in 2003, bringing the total complement to 75 beds and expanding Northwestern Memorial’s ability to care for more patients. In addition, in April 2003, a new outpatient facility was opened. This 32,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility provides a model for integrated, comprehensive cancer care. Complementing medical, surgical and gynecologic care is a wide range of patient support services including social work, psychology, nutrition, pain management, and financial counseling. In addition, the Cancer Center is serving as a pilot site for a new Patient Navigator Program being implemented by the American Cancer Society, which will provide support and information/referral services for patients.

Highlights of other Cancer Center activities:

• a wide range of both intramural and extramural training and professional education as well as public education
• annual survivorship activities, including a Survivors Ball Game event at U.S. Cellular Field in August and a Cancer Survivors Celebration and Walk in Grant Park on National Cancer Survivors Day in June
• graduate and post-doctoral training grants funded by the National Cancer Institute, including a recently funded grant in the area of cancer prevention
• a special summer training program for underserved and minority high school and undergraduate students to promote careers in research

Additional programs supported by CBCC include:

• an outstanding graduate training program in cancer biology
• a clinical oncology fellowship
• the Nellie Fox Cancer Care Fund which provides support for a variety of patient and staff activities including the Jolly Trolly that serves much appreciated treats to cancer patients
• Circle of Care Retreats, a program which helps to rejuvenate the minds and bodies of caregivers in the Oncology, Palliative Care and Hospice units; and numerous other cancer-related services
• the Surgical Oncology Seed Support Fund, which supports the research efforts of the Division of Surgical Oncology

The One Step At A Time Camp was founded in 1978 to assist families whose lives have been affected by childhood cancer and leukemia. The Camp’s mission is to provide positive, safe and fun camping and other experiences for children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer and leukemia, as well as survivors of childhood cancer and leukemia. With others who have shared the same experiences, children lose their inhibitions about their hair loss and other therapy-related disfigurements and test the limits of their physical abilities. Since the camp was founded, the lives of more than 5,000 children have been touched through their experiences at One Step At A Time Camp.

• For two weeks each July and one week in December, children and volunteer staff come together to have fun and to celebrate life. The camps are open to children from Illinois, Wisconsin and northern Indiana, ages 7 through 19, who have cancer or leukemia.
• Families are asked to pay only $100 per week for camp, although the average cost per camper is almost $700. Camperships” are offered for tuition when families cannot afford the modest tuition. No child is ever turned away because of inability to pay.
• The status of a child’s therapy does not influence eligibility to attend. Some campers will be currently in treatment for cancer, some will already be finished with their treatment, and some may no longer have treatment options available. Regardless, all campers find opportunities for fun, friendship, and spiritual/psychological healing.
• All camp personnel are volunteers, including the medical staff who are equipped to deal with the normal cuts and bruises of any recreational program, as well as with the unique medical challenges of cancer and its treatments.
• A strong testament to the spirit of optimism and hope inspired by One Step At A Time Camp, 30 percent of the camping staff are survivors of childhood cancers and leukemia, and many are former campers themselves.
• Among the many programs and recreational activities available to campers are: swimming, sailing, water sports, golfing, bowling, arts & crafts at summer camp and sleigh rides, tobogganing, snow boarding and cross-country skiing at winter camp.

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