Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund
About Childhood Cancer Research
Pediatric cancers, also known as childhood cancers, occur in children and adolescents from 0-19 years old. While adults and children do share some cancer types, they are not treated in the same way. Because children are smaller and often still growing, they face unique challenges when diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death for children over one-year-old. In 2024, over 14,900 children and adolescents are expected to be diagnosed with cancer. The good news is childhood cancer research is working. Today, 85% of children with cancer now survive five years or more, a significant increase from the mid-1970s when it was 58%. While there is still more work to do, we are closer than ever to Victory Over Cancer®.
Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund
Your donations to the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at the V Foundation support innovative childhood cancer research. In total, the V Foundation has awarded more than $84 million in pediatric cancer research grants to the nation’s top scientists.
Dick has hosted the Dick Vitale Gala since 2005 which celebrates progress in research, honors childhood cancer thrivers, and provides critical research funding, raising nearly $93 million since its inception. He has an unmatched energy and has described himself as obsessed with cancer research funding.
Not long after losing his friend and fellow ESPN broadcaster Jim Valvano to cancer, Dick Vitale made a commitment to stop the disease. He is a long-time V Foundation Board member and a passionate advocate for childhood cancer research.
Dick has often proclaimed he will continue to raise money for kids with cancer “until his last breath.” He is truly a champion!
Our Childhood Cancer Research Efforts
Research has made substantial progress in treatments for childhood cancers, and survival rates are increasing. But our work is not done. We still lose far too many children to the disease. Funding research is a critical component of advancing treatments for children with cancer.
We need more answers to save more lives: Why do children develop cancer? How can we create safe and effective treatments for them? How can we ensure their long-term health and wellness after cancer?
Your donation to childhood cancer research will enable researchers to do amazing things, like:
- Reduce the long-term side effects of cancer and its treatments
- Ewelina Bolcun-Filas, Ph.D., from The Jackson Laboratory is working to find better ways to protect the reproductive health of young cancer patients.
- Create therapies designed specifically for children
- Miguel Rivera, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital is designing new therapies for pediatric cancer by uncovering how mutations can lead to changes in gene expression.
- Give the precious gift of more time to children and their families
Michael Deel, M.D., from Duke Cancer Institute has dedicated his career to studying one of the most difficult and aggressive childhood cancers with a goal of giving patients a better shot at a long and healthy life.
