TRAVERSE CITY — Only 4 percent of federal cancer research dollars are specifically allocated for pediatric cancer, according to the Children’s Cancer Foundation.
That percentage varies, depending on how research studies are classified, but one fact is clear to Sarah and Patrick Rigan of Traverse City: “It’s not enough.”
The Traverse City couple knows the struggles of childhood cancer all too well.
Their son, Conor, has been fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer called anaplastic ependymoma since he was diagnosed at 6 months old. So far, he has undergone six surgeries.
“When we found out, it was a huge shock,” said Sarah Rigan, 35, an educator. “We had no background in cancer at all. Unfortunately, it can happen to anyone.”
Sarah’s husband, Patrick, 37, works in the vineyard industry at Chateau Chantal. He also grows grapes for local vintners in partnership with his brother. They’ve been married for 10 years and met at Michigan State University.
To raise awareness about childhood cancer – and raise funds for research – the Rigans and their friends are hosting a run/walk on Saturday, Sept. 21, called the “More Than Four 5.04K.” (That extra 0.04-kilometer is a reminder of the meager 4 percent research budget.)
The event will start at Brady’s Bar, 401 S. Union St., at 9 a.m. and finish at about 11 a.m. and all ages are welcome. After the race, participants and their families can enjoy a pulled-pork sandwich meal on the patio of Brady’s Bar for $15.
“I use running as a mental and emotional outlet,” Sarah said. “When you have three children, one of them with brain cancer, it’s a healthy way to relieve stress. Walkers are welcome to participate, too!”
All net proceeds from the event will go to the More Than Four Foundation, a registered 501©(3) nonprofit organization. Those funds will be directed to pediatric cancer research, including new diagnostic methods for children in their first year of brain cancer.
The Rigans set up the foundation in April with help from friend Deborah Haase, a local philanthropy expert who handled much of the paperwork and required certifications.
Cancer is the third leading cause of death among children ages 1-17, preceded only by firearms and motor vehicle crashes, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which studies health-related issues in the United States.
Pediatric brain tumors are difficult to treat with traditional chemotherapy because of the so-called “blood-brain barrier” that prevents many medications from reaching those areas.
According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, brain tumors are the most common solid tumors affecting children and adolescents, with close to 5,000 children diagnosed each year.