Friends for Life, a Seattle Children’s Guild, Increases Pediatric Oncology Research Fundraising and Raises Awareness About Childhood Cancer

Seattle, WA, September 22, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Friends for Life, a Seattle Children’s Hospital Guild, was founded in 2006 by Dene James and Grier Smith, parents of a former cancer patient at Seattle Children’s. Friends for Life has two primary missions. First, the non-profit guild raises funds to support childhood cancer research at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Second, the guild raises awareness about childhood cancer. The work of Friends for Life is highlighted during the month of September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This month, Friends for Life unveils its fifth hand-blown glass ornament colored by a child ambassador. The new 2010 ornament, colored by Jackson who now celebrates five years of cancer-free living, along with previous years’ ornaments, will be sold at the third annual Finaghty’s Friends for Life Fallfest, to be held at Finaghty’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in Snoqualmie, Wash. on Saturday, September 25 from 11 am until 6 pm. Attendees will be treated to a performance by the band Recess Monkey, a youth favorite, which performs at 2 pm.

Supporters of Friends for Life are proud to be a part of the guild’s efforts to raise research dollars for Seattle Children’s. Since 2006, Friends for Life has raised over $125,000. Last year, the guild’s donations helped fund infant leukemia studies that would have been closed due to lack of funds. Friends for Life is proud to support the research being conducted by Dr. Jim Olsen and Dr. Michael Jensen. Dr. Jensen, who is leading research that has the potential to radically change the way pediatric cancers are treated and cured, joined Seattle Children’s Research Institute in July 2010.

Childhood cancers are the number one disease killer of children, and over 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in the United States. More children die from cancer each year than from AIDS, asthma, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis combined. Of the children who survive, 60% are left with long-term negative side effects from treatment. Friends for Life seeks to change these statistics for the better by raising awareness and research funding.

Ongoing support is needed from the public through ornament purchases, tax-deductible donations, and sponsorships which help fund the Friends for Life guild’s startup costs. Businesses are invited to join as sponsors, alongside BNBuilders, a Friends for Life business sponsor. For more information, please email info@FriendsGuild.org or visit www.FriendsGuild.org.

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