Monday, November 10, 2008

CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation is pleased to present the inaugural Greater Charlotte Area MileStones Walk this Saturday, November 15th at Freedom Park, to benefit lifesaving childhood cancer research conducted by the Children?s Oncology Group, the world?s premier pediatric cancer research collaborative. The Children?s Oncology Group treats more than 90 percent of children with cancer in North America.

Emcee for the Walk will be Molly Grantham, News Anchor for CBS affiliate, WBTV Channel 3. In addition, event-day music will be provided by East Coast Entertainment. Beverages will be provided by Starbucks and Smoothie King.

?We are excited to invite everyone in the greater Charlotte area to come out on Saturday and be part of the cure for childhood cancer,? said Sharon Sullivan, MileStones Walk event chair.

?The loss of even one more child to cancer is one too many. The money we raise will go toward research that will end this disease. Fifty years ago, the cure rate for childhood cancer was less than 10%, now it is approaching 80%. But we will not stop until we get to 100%, and can guarantee every child with cancer the gift of a long and healthy life.?

The MileStones Walk for Childhood Cancer unites people in the fight to conquer childhood cancer, the #1 cause of death from disease in children in the United States. Every school day, another 46 children, about two classrooms of students, are diagnosed with cancer in the United States.

?CureSearch is grateful to the Charlotte community for raising funds and awareness for childhood cancer,? said Stacy Pagos Haller, Executive Director of CureSearch. ?It?s a great way to come together and honor and support children with cancer and their families .?

Registration opens in Freedom Park at 9:00 am. Opening ceremonies and the walk begin promptly at 10:00 am.

For more information about the Charlotte MileStones Walk for Childhood Cancer, visit www.milestoneswalk.org, or contact Natalie Cole, National Events Manager, at (240) 235-2215 or Natalie.cole@curesearch.org.

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About CureSearch

CureSearch seeks to conquer childhood cancer, conquer it sooner, conquer it fully and for all time. Through public education, advocacy and fundraising, the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3), exclusively supports the work of the Children?s Oncology Group (COG), the world?s premier pediatric cancer research collaborative. This network of more than 5,000 healthcare professionals dedicates their lives to finding answers and sharing results. More than 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and more than 40,000 children and adolescents are currently in treatment. Only research cures cancer. For more information, visit www.CureSearch.org.