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Our first e-newsletter
Instead of our annual mailout, we will be sending you a quarterly electronic newsletter. We hope you enjoy hearing about the neuroblastoma families who are part of our cause and the great successes you have helped us achieve.
March 19, 2011 marked the 10th anniversary of The James Fund. Ten years ago, we set up innovative funding models to spend your funds which would bring good data forward quickly. Projects you have funded brought such promising results that major granting agencies like the Stem Cell Network and Canadian Cancer Society have jumped on board to further our work.
Thanks to all the donors and neuroblastoma families who are part of our work, we are approaching $10 Million brought into SickKids. Almost $5 Million was raised by James Fund donors like you. The other $5 Million was from big granting agencies which liked our research results so much that they are paying for the second stage of our projects.
This means that for every dollar you have donated to The James Fund over the past 10 years, two dollars has gone into some of the most promising neuroblastoma research on the face of the earth.
Now one of the largest dedicated neuroblastoma research labs in the world, the James Birrell Laboratories houses 25 researchers. The head of our research activities is Dr. David Kaplan, who was awarded the top award in the field for a James Fund project which discovered the stem cell for neuroblastoma. In fact, The James Fund has made a significant contribution to the world's knowledge about the disease.
Here's a great example of your donations at work. This spring, James Fund researcher Dr. Meredith Irwin received $432,000 from the Canadian Cancer Society for neuroblastoma research. This grant builds on the research successes that nb families and their supporters have funded. It is a wonderful validation of our work. The data that enabled Dr. Irwin to obtain this grant was funded by The James Fund, together with the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, Solving Kid's Cancer, and Ontario Institute of Cancer research grants to Dr. David Kaplan.
Over the years, the Hower family has raised almost $100,000 for The James Fund and we are honoured that the Matthew Hower Foundation continues to support our work. We have dedicated new research in Matthew's name at the University of Winnipeg. Together, the Matthew Hower Foundation and The James Fund are championing neuroblastoma research in Manitoba, in the name of our children.
We welcome fundraisers in Calgary, Orangeville and London, who have joined the neuroblastoma families across the country which make up The James Fund. Old friends, including the Leggate's who are leading the pack in Nova Scotia, continue to sustain the brilliant research they helped to incubate years ago.
As well as raising funds for research, The James Fund includes in its mandate to support neuroblastoma families. Our Family Support activities are funded by the James Fund Golf Classic, a great annual event sponsored by Anden Bath Centre and hosted by Canadian Star, Michael Burgess. This tournament funds the James Fund Neuroblastoma Family Retreat held every September at a wilderness camp in the Muskokas. Through this event we have developed a network of neuroblastoma families who offer their support to families struggling with the many issues the disease imposes on them. Our Family Support fund also provides a limited amount of emergency funding to the many neuroblastoma families in need.
This year's Retreat was full to capacity, a resounding success with family activities, kids programs, sports, speakers for the parents, and more. Undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend was the high ropes course. That is, aside from the great company!
In the fall we were pleased to attend the gala for our funding partner, Solving Kids Cancer, in New York City. We continue to develop relationships with neuroblastoma families and groups who are determined to elevate our cause and save our kids.
We hope you will continue to follow our story and we invite you to share our news with your family, friends and colleagues. We remain committed to making the maximum possible impact with your donations and are most grateful for your support. Your donations have helped us make a lot of progress, but we're not there yet!
Thank you for all that you have done for our cause.
Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy, and Merry Christmas.
From all of us at The James Fund.
Syd Birrell, Lloyd Graham, James Mewett, Katie Pezoulas, Jane Ulrich, Rhonda Walst
Executive Director: Diana Birrell
705-749-3941 | 
