The best of the season to you!
This year was filled with many successes in terms of fundraising, research, awareness and family support. But our highlight of the year was undoubtedly the ANR conference this past June.
The James Fund was very proud to be the Diamond Sponsor of the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Conference in Toronto. ANR is the premier research conference in our field, globally.
Held every other year at a major city, ANR is the international "think tank" for over 500 neuroblastoma (nb) scientists and health practitioners from 32 countries, who come together every two years to share their latest findings.
We couldn't think of a better way to spend your donor dollars!
The Chair of ANR 2012 was James Fund researcher and beloved SickKids oncologist, Sylvain Baruchel. Numerous other James Fund researchers were on his organizing committee. Their event was outstanding.
Syd and Diana Birrell attended the entire four-day conference. We met many of the big names in the industry, several of whom we have partnered with, and some who we have met in the past. We were overwhelmed at the recognition from researchers around the world for our work. It is clear that they see the nb "Parent Movement" as critical to the success of their work.
ANR 2012 included the first-ever Parent Symposium, a special opportunity for nb parents to attend roundtable discussions with researchers and clinicians from the conference, social workers, and one of Canada's leading fundraisers. The social which followed provided an excellent opportunity for families to connect. The Symposium was so well received that the ANR Steering Committee has mandated there be a Parent Symposium at every future ANR conference.
Our Diamond Sponsorship included several registrations to the conference and we were pleased to be able to extend registrations to our friends at Neuroblastoma Alliance UK and Solving Kids' Cancer (USA). We met and shared ideas with other family groups from Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Australia, Spain, and Italy.
We are now talking with nb families around the world about forming a global consortium of neuroblastoma family foundations. Also, Diana has been asked by the organizing committees of ANR 2014 and 2016 to help with their upcoming Parent Symposiums.
Your James Fund donations have helped to get the world up to speed on the latest scientific findings and the bar has now been raised that much higher. You have also helped to build the momentum of nb families who will ultimately fund the cure for their own kids.
We are most grateful for your support, which has funded world-class research and is providing great hope to nb families around the world.
We are indebted to the families who share this challenging work with us, in the name of their child.
And, as always, we are in awe of the brilliant researchers and clinicians who have dedicated their lives to our cause.
Thank you!
Wishing you and your family a safe, healthy, and Merry Christmas.
