Today is Giving Tuesday, a day amidst all of the holiday bustle when people worldwide find ways to give of themselves. So today, we would like to share with you a way that we have been honoring Caemon, a way we can all give in Caemon’s memory.
Just a few months after Caemon died in 2013, I got in touch with a representative from St. Baldrick’s, an organization whose sole purpose is to fund pediatric cancer research, and I spoke with them about ways in which we could honor our son, one of which was a Hero Fund that would be directed to JMML research. In June of that year, Jodi shaved her head at our first St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, organized by Caemon’s uncle. A year later, we did it again, and this time one of Caemon’s oncologists joined us. With that fundraiser, we finally had enough to start our fund.
Today, we would like to unveil to you the Caemon Marston-Simmons Hero Fund. Caemon’s fund will provide grants specifically for JMML researchers as they continue to try to understand this disease. It is yet another way for Caemon to continue to make a difference, another way for him to live on.
But why should you give to St. Baldrick’s on Giving Tuesday? For us, this is personal in so many ways. You see, that same oncologist who shaved his head at our event last summer is also making some truly groundbreaking discoveries using Caemon’s own cells. You can read an article about the important work he is doing here: Rare Childhood Leukemia Reveals Surprising Genetic Secrets (note that the boy mentioned in the end of the article is, in fact, Caemon). His research is funded in large part by St. Baldrick’s grants, and his research is inspired in so many ways by our son. St. Baldrick’s continues to seek out the best researchers in pediatric oncology to ensure they have at least some of the funding they need to understand pediatric cancers.
We want to see an end to JMML–to all childhood cancers. We want these kids to have a greater chance at survival, and we know that supporting St. Baldrick’s is one way we can help ensure that happens. Please join us today in giving to St. Baldricks. Help us grow Caemon’s Hero Fund, and help us support these researchers who want to put an end to this disease.
Thank you!
The Marston-Simmons Family
C is for Crocodile 