The Kennedy Family Starts the Season of Giving to Help Defeat Brain Cancer
Ian Kennedy and his wife Allison are excited to present the Head for the Cure Foundation (HFTC) with a $75,000 donation as a part of their “K’s for a Cause” program to HFTC Founder and President, Matt Anthony and hosted by Fox 4’s John Holt. The check presentation will be a part of the #GivingTuesday celebration on Tuesday, December 1st premiered on HFTC’s Facebook and YouTube at 4 p.m. CST.
In early August Ian Kennedy and his wife Allison announced their new initiative “K’s for a Cause.” During the 2020 season Kennedy pledged to donate $10,000 per strikeout to two organizations, Head for the Cure and Consider the Lily. Each organization would receive $5,000. At the end of the season with 15 strikeouts Kennedy’s donation was up to $150,000; $75,000 for each organization.
“On behalf of the entire Head for the Cure community, we are so grateful to Ian and Allison Kennedy for their incredible generosity and personal commitment to bring hope to brain tumor patients and caregivers in the Kansas City area and across the country,” said Matt Anthony, president and founder of Head for the Cure. “The Kennedys’ gift greatly enhances the Head for the Cure Foundation’s ability to fund important clinical research and education and advocacy programs, helping patients and caregivers navigate their journey with brain cancer.”
The donation from the Kennedy family will be added to the Metro KC 5K that was held in August, bringing the total fundraising to nearly $450,000. Funds will support research and program grants to the KU Cancer Center, Solace House, Children’s Brain Tumor Project and the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative.
The Head for the Cure Foundation has raised nearly $17 million for brain cancer research since ’03 when the first 5K was organized in suburban Kansas City. In 2019, a record $2.8 million was raised at events nationwide.
More than 700,000 people in the U.S are living with the diagnosis of a primary brain (malignant or non-malignant) or central nervous system tumor. The National Brain Tumor Society estimates 86,000 men, women and children in the U.S. will be diagnosed in 2020 alone with a brain tumor. The average survival rate of those diagnosed with a glioblastoma is only 14-16 months.
KENNEDY-HFTC CHECK PRESENTATION
WHEN: 4 p.m., December 1 (#GivingTuesday)
WHAT: $75,000 check presentation from Free Agent Relief Pitcher Ian Kennedy and wife Allison to HFTC Founder Matt Anthony and hosted by Fox 4 John Holt as a part of the K’s for a Cause program.
WHERE: Hosted on Facebook Premiere (facebook.com/headforthecure) and YouTube
WHY: The Head for the Cure Foundation was established to celebrate the life of Chris Anthony, who suffered from a glioblastoma brain tumor and died in February 2003 at age 37. Chris, a lifelong resident of the KC area, battled cancer with dignity, grace and indescribable courage. He was an avid runner and his family decided an annual 5K run would be a fitting way to honor his memory and raise awareness and funding to fight brain cancer. The inaugural HFTC 5K in ’03 drew about 300 (mainly family and friends) and raised a few thousand dollars.
BENEFICIARIES: Funds raised by Head for the Cure provided the seed money to help launch the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative (https://ccr.cancer.gov/neuro-oncology-branch/bttc), a national network of highly respected and dedicated doctors from some of the country’s most renowned medical centers. BTTC is led by the Center for Cancer Research, NCI (National Cancer Institutes) and is headed by Dr. Mark Gilbert, NCI’s principal investigator who is considered “America’s Neuro-Oncologist.” The BTTC has grown to 34 member institutions and works constantly toward unparalleled advancements in brain cancer research, treatment and prevention. BTTC remains the primary beneficiary of Head for the Cure 5K events, in addition to medical centers and cancer organizations that support the brain cancer community in markets where HFTC 5K events are held.
HFTC FOUNDER’S COMMENT: “We operate with a clear and distinct focus — to build awareness for this disease, to fund brain tumor research and patient programs to find comprehensive treatments and to ignite hope that no one has to journey alone. Our supporters and fundraising has allowed the BTTC and local clinics to further its research efforts and open several new clinical trials over the past few years. We are proud to support their life sustaining work. While the success over the past 17 years is gratifying, our work is only getting started.” — HFTC Founder Matt Anthony
HFTC 5K LOCATIONS: Orlando, FL; Charleston, SC; Midland, TX; Central Texas (Austin); San Francisco, CA; Rochester, NY; Mid-Missouri (Columbia); North Texas (Plano); Columbus, OH; New Jersey (Bloomfield); Wichita, KS; Bronxville, NY; Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; Des Moines, IA; Omaha, NE; Salt Lake City, UT; Pittsburgh, PA; Metro Kansas City (Bike Ride & 5K); NC Triangle (Chapel, Hill); Chicago, IL; San Antonio , TX; Cleveland, OH; Detroit, MI; Houston, TX; New York City, NY; Phoenix, AZ.
Additional information is also available at:
Facebook.com/headforthecure | Twitter: @HeadfortheCure | Instagram.com/headforthecure
_________
Head for the Cure Foundation | 1607 Oak St. | Kansas City, MO 64108 | HeadfortheCure.org.