Super Jake Foundation Honors Chicago Oncologist Dr. Morris Kletzel for Outstanding Contributions to Pediatric Cancer Research
GURNEE, Ill., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ — Super Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. For children suffering with neuroblastoma, a rare and deadly type of pediatric cancer, they come in the form of scientists, researchers, doctors and nurses. In recognition of outstanding contributions to neuroblastoma research, The Super Jake Foundation is pleased to announce Morris Kletzel, MD, Division Head of the Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, has been named the recipient of the inaugural “Super Jake Super Hero Award.” This special award, named in honor of Jake Robert Widman, a young local boy who died of neuroblastoma in 2005, will be presented at the 3rd annual Super Jake & Friends “Heroes Bash” on November 3 at the Hilton Northbrook.
The award and a grant for $25,000 will be presented at the annual fundraiser, which is expected to raise more than $100,000 for The Super Jake Foundation. The funds raised will be directed toward research, like Dr. Kletzel’s, to help find a cure for neuroblastoma as well as to provide assistance to families with children suffering from cancer.
“Dr. Kletzel may not leap tall buildings in a single bound, but he’s definitely a hero in my book,” said Ann Fahey-Widman, Jake’s mom and president of The Super Jake Foundation. “Dr. Kletzel and his colleagues at Children’s Memorial Hospital are working tirelessly to find a cure for this terrible disease and they are making real progress. The Super Jake Super Hero Award recognizes their dedication and hard work and provides more funding for continued progress.”
About Dr. Kletzel’s Research
Dr. Kletzel, who is the Meryl Suzanne Weiss Endowed Professor of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant, is also a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He and his team are pushing the frontiers of science to better understand the causes of cancer and blood diseases that affect children and improve treatments. As they advance their stem cell investigations, Dr. Kletzel and his team are focused on ensuring the scientific breakthroughs can be translated into effective treatments to help heal children living with cancer, and improve their quality of life.
Specifically, Dr. Kletzel’s laboratory studies focus on: — Developing a vaccine to target neuroblastoma tumors by inserting neuroblastoma antigens in dendritic stem cells, thereby spurring the immune system to produce antibodies. In a sense, this vaccine could manipulate the immune system into acting as if it has recovered from and is immune to the disease. This investigation could provide an entirely revolutionary method for treating childhood cancers. — Further examination of multiple ongoing clinical trials to find combinations of treatments and therapies that have a higher success rate. About the Super Jake & Friends Heroes Bash
Attendees of the bash are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero and join the fun. The evening will feature event host and emcee, radio celebrity Melissa Mcgurren (from the Eric & Kathy Morning show on 101.9fm THE MIX/WTMX Chicago), the local band, Out for Hours, an open bar, dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased with a credit card online at http://www.thesuperjakefoundation.com/ or by sending a check to: The Super Jake Foundation, P.O. Box 477, Gurnee, IL 60031. For more information, please visit Jake’s Web site at http://www.justforjake.com/ or http://www.thesuperjakefoundation.com/.
Event Information Super Jake & Friends Heroes Bash Saturday, November 3, 2007 7:00 p.m. to midnight Hilton Northbrook, 2855 North Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois About The Super Jake Foundation
The Super Jake Foundation — helping kids win the battle against cancer — was established to honor Jake Robert Widman, who, at age three, was diagnosed with a rare and deadly form of pediatric cancer called neuroblastoma. Super Jake fought his courageous battle for a year, enduring 10 rounds of chemotherapy, four surgeries and three bone marrow transplants. Although he was declared to be in clinical remission in February 2005, he suffered a relapse and died in May 2005. Jake’s family established The Super Jake Foundation to fund and find a cure for neuroblastoma and to provide assistance to families with children with cancer at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. To date, volunteers have raised more then $300,000 for pediatric cancer research.
The Super Jake Foundation
CONTACT: Ann Widman of The Super Jake Foundation, +1-847-625-0436,info@thesuperjakefoundation.com
Web site: http://www.justforjake.com/http://www.thesuperjakefoundation.com/