Why We Walk/Run/Ride
A laboratory based out of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock establishes and banks cell lines (tumor cells growing in the test tube) and patient-derived xenografts (tumors from patients grown in special mice) from childhood cancers.
These laboratory models of childhood cancer are invaluable to investigators for studying cancer biology and for testing new therapies in the laboratory.
The repository provides cell lines and xenografts to researchers across the USA and the world (19 countries) and has become the de facto worldwide repository for such childhood cancer models. This repository is supported by Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which enables it to continue to receive samples from The Children's Oncology Group (COG), to establish new laboratory models of childhood cancer, and to make those models available to investigators world-wide.
Last year our team logged 9,751 miles and raised $3,340! We hope to surpass our totals from last year.
This year, our team is joined by TTUHSC medical students! As part of the medical student's TTUHSC Oncology Interest Group initiative, medical students will be participating and helping to fundraise for the Cancer Center lab. The medical students are excited and eager to take part in this effort and look forward to meeting the Cellbuster’s fundraising goal.
Thank you KCBD11for the story on childhood cancer research at TTUHSC.
To continue the discussion about our team, join the Cellbusters Facebook group or follow us on Twitter.
For more information about the repository, please visit: cogcell.org
Our Honored Hero - Brendan Whieldon
Brendan Whieldon was diagnosed with Stage 4, n-myc amplified Neuroblastoma at age 4. He was treated with chemotherapy for 8 years (ages 4 to 13). He then went on to have two years of reconstructive leg surgery. He has been off chemo and cancer free for 5 years. At age 16 he was the youngest certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia.
Brendan is a healthy, active 18 year old who continues to do charity work, helping children less fortunate than himself, and works for Flaman Fitness, serving the community's fitness needs. His motto: "Never give up." In his spare time he can be found on the dirt bike trails or working out at Gold's Gym.
Watch Brendan's amazing story here:
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=399834&playlistId=1.1915763&binId=1.1184694&playlistPageNum=1
