2023 Notable Accomplishments
As 2023 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of the great strides cureMEC made this year. None of this would have been possible without the financial support of our friends, family and community and we are so incredibly grateful.
We often say that Research is Hope and that is because it really is the hope we’re holding onto that will save our Sebas and others like him. Thank you for making this hope possible and for holding it with us.
2023 Notable Accomplishments:
Advanced MEC cancer research, in partnership with the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute (cc-TDI). From gathering and analyzing MEC tumor samples from around the world, to working to develop new MEC mouse models and the world’s first MEC cell line, we are filled with hope because the research that cc-TDI is spearheading is advancing much faster than anticipated. Mouse models and cell lines are among the most valuable tools in cancer research and will make it possible for cc-TDI and other researchers to make faster progress on MEC research, including identifying new potential treatments.
We raised over $135,000! This year, we focused a lot of our time on fundraising for the cancer research that we believe will save Sebas and other children with MEC. We hosted several online and in-person fundraisers, including our successful “$100,000 Besos for Sebas” fundraising campaign and our inaugural “Blood, Bands & Brew for a Cure” event. Our amazing volunteers also hosted fundraising events, including “Summits for Sebas”, “Say Cheese & Cheers”, “Acts for Sebas” and a flamenco performance, among others.
New partnership with Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, one of the preeminent funders of cancer research specifically for kids and teens. In August, cureMEC and Rally co-funded and awarded a $50,000 “Outside the Box” grant to Dr. Charles Keller and cc-TDI to support their novel idea to generate a genetically-engineered MEC mouse model and share it with worldwide. We are excited to be partnering with Rally again in 2024 on another MEC research grant!
Advanced our goal to help MEC patients and families have better access to the expert advice they need to make more informed decisions. In 2023, we worked to make it easier for MEC and other cancer patients in New Mexico to receive virtual second opinions by advocating in support of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact bill in the New Mexico state legislature. We published an Op-Ed in several newspapers to educate the public and while the bill ultimately didn’t pass, we will try again in the future.
Advocated for action in Congress. In September, we traveled to Washington DC and shared Sebas’ story with members of Congress and their staff, and urged them to support federal legislation that would increase funding for childhood cancer research. We are proud that Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Melanie Stansbury co-sponsored the Gabriella Miller Kids First Act 2.0 and that Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez co-sponsored the Give Kids a Chance Act and announced she would support the Kids First Act 2.0.
