The Latest in Amber's Antibodies Cancer Research Funding
Amber's Antibodies not only provides financial relief to Southwest Florida families fighting cancer but also funds cancer research to find a cure for good.
Our latest donation benefited Chords2Cure, a music-based nonprofit organization supporting pediatric cancer research. Recently, the organization helped fund the development of Larotrectinib, the first FDA-approved cancer therapy drug in more than 30 years to treat both children and adults.
Dr. Noah Federman, director of the Pediatric Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Program at UCLA, participated in a clinical trial for the drug, from which more than 120 patients with different cancers benefited. The youngest patient of the Larotrectinib trial had a particularly positive response. You can view Little Linda's story here.
Pediatric cancer hits home for Chords2Cure's cofounders. A group of California-based Crossroads School students and their families created the nonprofit organization after their music-loving friend, Jaxon Blumenthal, 17, was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a type of liver cancer, in 2013. While receiving treatment at UCLA, he met Mafalda von Alvensleben, 19, a former Crossroads student and fellow fan of music who also inspired Chords2Cure. Von Alvensleben was being treated for Ewing Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Dr. Federman served as both Blumenthal and von Alvensleben's oncologist.
Chords2Cure now raises funds for Dr. Federman's research at UCLA through annual concerts. They have held five to date, featuring student performers and even guest stars like Coldplay's Chris Martin, Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett and Magic Giant and OneRepublic.
We set out to support the right causes that fight hard to beat cancer. We proud to see this one paying off so well, and we thank Chords2Cure and Dr. Federman for their essential contributions to get us closer to a cure for cancer.
Dr. Noah Federman, director of the Pediatric Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Program at UCL.
To date, Amber's Antibodies has donated $135,750 to cancer research and $247,875 grants to 96 families across Southwest Florida.