Relatives and friends of Killian Owen gather at Palmetto Health Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders to be a part of the $11,000 donation from Curing Kids' Cancer to the center. Photo by Mimi M. Maddock

On July 31, 2006, Curing Kids' Cancer Inc. donated $11,000 to Palmetto Health Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders to fund cutting-edge cancer research.

The money was raised from two special events - Heathwood Hall Episcopal School's "Kickin' Kids' Cancer to the ENDzone" mom's flag football game on May 12 and the 2nd Annual Killian Owen Memorial Golf Tournament held in Orange-burg on March 25. The money will be used to provide the opportunity for children in the area to participate in clinical and biological research trials.

"Participation in these trials ensures our children receive the most current treatment available and that new knowledge about the biology and treatment of childhood cancer will help us achieve our goal of being able to cure all children with cancer in our lifetime," said Dr. Ron Neuberg, pediatric oncologist at Palmetto Health.

"The beauty of this donation is that so much of the money was raised by the children of South Carolina," said Grainne Owen, founder of Curing Kids' Cancer. "We're happy this money can stay in the Palmetto State to help find a cure for children's cancers.

Curing Kids' Cancer was inspired by the life of nine-year-old Killian Owen, who lost his battle with leukemia in July 2003. Killian's parents, Clay and Grainne Owen of Marietta, Ga. founded Curing Kids' Cancer in an effort to fund cutting edge pediatric cancer research.

The Owen family has deep roots in South Carolina. An Orangeburg native, Clay grew up in North, SC and graduated from the USC. The Second Annual Killian Owen Memorial Golf Tournament was organized by his father, Paul Owen Sr. of North and his sister, Gina Janvrin of Columbia. The Heathwood Hall flag football game was spearheaded by Clay and Grainne's sister-in-law, Elizabeth Owen of Columbia.

In addition to special events, Curing Kids' Cancer has two national grassroots programs - Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer and Teachers Curing Kids' Cancer. Both programs urge children to donate money to pediatric cancer research in the name of their coach or teacher rather than buying gifts. Today's gift is the second major grant Curing Kids' Cancer has made this summer. In July, Curing Kids' Cancer donated $100,000 to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The money was raised from the inaugural Cingular Curing Kids' Cancer Golf Classic.

About Curing Kids' Cancer

Inspired by nine year old Killian Owen's battle with leukemia, Curing Kids' Cancer Inc. is a unique, national grassroots movement which aims to raise both awareness and money to find cures for all types of childhood cancer. The programs fund the development of cutting edge therapies which will revolutionize childhood cancer treatment by replacing traditional chemotherapy. The objective is to turn this killer disease into a curable one in our lifetime. Details are available at www.curingkidscancer.org.