When Brent Surman, coach of the Shetland Padres Pony League team of Murrieta, Calif., received his end-of-season gift from his team, he was touched.
Instead of a gift certificate or a plaque, the team made a donation in Coach Surman’s name to Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer to help fund pediatric cancer research.
"I was so moved by their gesture," said Coach Surman. "The players demonstrated exactly the type of values I try to teach. I can't think of a better gift to receive from my team."
In return for the donation, the coach received a t-shirt and a personalized certificate from Coaches Curing Kids Cancer.
Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer was inspired by the life of Killian Owen, a nine-year-old from Atlanta who battled leukemia for three and a half years. During that time, Killian still managed to participate in baseball, swimming and basketball.
It was Killian’s "can do" attitude that inspired a local coach to donate his end-of-season gift to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta – where Killian received treatment – in Killian's name. And the idea for Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer was born.
Despite years of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and even experimental treatment at the National Institutes of Health, Killian wasn’t able to beat the cancer and passed away in July of 2003. About a year later, his mother Grainne Owen decided to turn the coach’s idea into a full-fledged charity.
"Killian received the best cancer treatment available, but it still couldn't cure him," said Mrs. Owen. "We need to help find new, next-generation therapies that will replace regular chemotherapy and target just the cancer cells."
Last year, Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer made a step in that direction, helping fund a clinical trial of a new targeted therapy at the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. And in what can only be described as a fitting tribute, the trial was for a new generation of the experimental drug that was pioneered by Killian.
"Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer is helping us forge ahead with cutting edge targeted therapies," said Dr. Howard Katzenstein, director of clinical research and experimental therapies at the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's. "Kids' sports teams can really make a difference in helping other children who must face the horrors of cancer."
Coaches Curing Kids Cancer also supported research in hospitals in San Diego, Seattle, Dallas, New Jersey, and Columbia, S.C.
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The charity also runs a similar program for honoring teachers, called Teachers Curing Kids' Cancer. Details of both programs are available at www.curingkidscancer.org. - ARA
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