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As many of you know my little cousin Harrison, has been battling OSTEOSARCOMA, a very rare bone cancer, for the past year and a half. Harrison was diagnosed with cancer in July 2020 at almost 7-years-old and underwent months of intensive chemotherapy and a surgery to remove a portion of his collarbone as well as more chemo and immunotherapy. This past July, Harrison finally finished his last treatment!!! Through the MAGICAL care at MSK ( Memorial Sloane Kettering) he was able to go to day camp after his treatment was over and is back at school!

While his initial fight is over Harrison’s battle continues as OSTEOSARCOMA has a significant rate of reoccurrence. Harrison goes back for scans every 3 months. These Scans are grueling both mentally and phsyically. I watch my aunt wait holding her breath for the results each time. They will do that every 3 months for the next 10 years! That is if they are lucky.

The money raised through Harrison's Warriors directly impacts kids just like Harrison. While we hope and pray Harrison’s story continues to have a happy ending, many children and their Families don’t have a similar prognosis. The money raised goes to LIFESAVING RESEARCH. Some of which we have already witnessed firsthand. We are hopeful that they will find more effective, less toxic and targeted cancer treatments.

Please DONATE TODAY AND/OR Join me and my team, Harrison’s Warriors, in the battle to beat RARE CANCERS In honor of HARRISON and every child battling cancer! I can't wait to see you there!

THANK YOU! 

BRODY LEVINE 

(TEAM CAPTAIN OF HARRISON'S WARRIORS)

Here is Harrison’s Story written by my aunt…I think it is important for everyone to read.

Life changes in an instant. On July 21st 2020, just shy of Harrison's 7th birthday, Harrison was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a pediatric bone cancer. Every parent's worst nightmare became our reality. Harrison underwent a year of intense chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as surgery to remove his collarbone. It was a very difficult long road and there were so many obstacles along the way. Harrison was robbed of a year of his childhood and forced to grow up too soon. No child should ever have the burden of knowing what battling cancer looks like. In July 2021, Harrison finished his treatment regimen and was finally able to live like a carefree kid again, something we all take for granted everyday.

We continue to be in awe of Harrisons strength and resilience. He is truly a WARRIOR.
Despite completing treatment, Harrison's battle is far from over. While his hair has grown back, the journey to a healthy future continues. This is a battle we will live with for a lifetime. Osteosarcoma has a high rate of recurrence. Harrison will continue to have scans every 3 months to monitor him closely. Each scan brings uncertainty, panic and brings our family back to hearing those fearful words, your child has cancer all over again. We pray everyday that we never hear those words again and that Harrison's cancer never returns and he is able to live a full and meaningful life.

We saw firsthand so many other families who had less favorable prognosis. The toxicity of the treatments are as brutal as the cancer itself. Many of these treatments have long term side effects which can impact patients for the rest of their lives.

MSK kids is committed to bringing the most innovative treatments to kids with cancer and donors are essential to progress. Less than 4% of federal cancer research funding is devoted to kids, so your support is the difference needed to get new treatments to children as quickly as possible.

IMPORTANT FACTS

• All Pediatric cancers are considered rare, which means they are grossly underfunded.
• Less than 4% of U.S. Federal Cancer Research funds are allocated to pediatric cancers.
• 43 of those children and young adults are diagnosed with cancer everyday.1/285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday
• MSK Kids, MSK's Pediatric program treats more children and young adults with cancer than any other hospital in the U.S.
• Many therapies got their start at MSK kids are now the standard of care at other hospitals
• The first chemotherapy was created for kids and later adapted for adults. Same with the first immunotherapy. Treatments created for children are often used to treat adults in the future. However, it is very difficult to go in the opposite direction because pediatric treatments require extra precautions which consider developing minds and bodies.
• 80% of children diagnosed with cancer will go into remission and will have the potential to live productive lives. However, the vast majority of these kids suffer crippling side effects from the toxicity of their treatments.
• The cure for cancer isn't something that happens once, it requires a continuum of learning. Over the past 5 decades treatments have evolved from chemotherapy and radiation to include less toxic options such as surgery, immunotherapy, vaccines and hundreds of variations which are currently in trials today.
• Cycle for Survival is the movement to beat rare cancers. Since 2007, Cycle for Survival has raised more than $220 million through its signature indoor team cycling events across the United States to help fund pioneering rare cancer research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which owns and operates Cycle for Survival. 100 percent of every donation funds rare cancer research. About half of all cancer patients are fighting a rare cancer, including all pediatric patients, and they often face limited or no treatment options.

Thank you for the continued love and support!