Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta

Each year in Alberta about 240 children are diagnosed with cancer. What follows are months or years of invasive treatments that interrupt the normal course of childhood depriving kids of regular childhood experiences such as playdates school sports and other activities. Children with cancer miss out on a lot leading to gaps in skills and development. A childhood rich with responsive relationships and learning experiences is essential to healthy development. KCC's vision is a cure for every child and care for every family helping young people and their families rebuild their lives through three essential program areas: 1. Research & Hospital - KCC funds research into the toughest childhood cancers enabling researchers to develop new therapies that save young lives without causing the chronic health problems of conventional therapies. Psycho-social research informs the design of programs and services that support children and families through their cancer crisis. KCC provided funding for two phase-one clinical trials that are testing next-generation immunotherapies that harness the child’s own immune system to fight cancer. The first trial testing a vaccine for DIPG (a terminal brain cancer) and the second is testing a CAR T-Cell therapy for sarcoma. KCC has invested $18.2 million into research and hospital support over the past 18 years. 2. Education Support & Scholarships - Cancer treatments can cause learning difficulties in children resulting in lower academic and employment outcomes. KCC’s education programs help children affected by cancer build a strong foundation for life. Our education support programs include one-to-one tutoring Cancer in the Classroom (to foster greater empathy in classmates of children with cancer) supporting parents post-high school preparation and post-secondary scholarships. Since its inception in 2008 KCC has invested $2.2 million in education support programs. 3. Camp & Outreach programs - KCC's year-round camp an