It is for these children and the many others battling cancer that local Giant Food stores kicked off their fourth year of the Triple Winner Program, pledging $1 million to pediatric cancer research at the Kimmel Cancer Center and $500,000 to the Children’s Cancer Foundation. The Baltimore Orioles helped launch the campaign on March 13, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, along with Donald Small, acting director of pediatric oncology, and Shirley Howard, president of the Children’s Cancer Foundation. The campaign was so successful that by June 9, a month earlier than anticipated, Giant announced that it had already reached its $1.5 million goal.

“Through Triple Winner, it has been our mission to eradicate childhood cancer,” says Robin Michel, executive vice president and general manager of Giant Food.  “Because of this program our associates, customers and suppliers have raised more than $47 million to date to directly support cancer research and care for children.”
 
The Triple Winner Game is a scratch-card promotion. For a $1 dollar donation, customers receive a ticket to instantly win a free product, a gift card or a cash prize of up to $10,000. All proceeds benefit childhood cancer research.
 
During the kick-off, Small announced that funds will be used to establish the Giant Food Pediatric Leukemia and Tumor Program at Johns Hopkins.

“This new program will allow us to significantly expand our research work in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, brain tumors, bone marrow transplantation and leukemia,” he said. “As federal funds tighten, private donations like these make it possible for us to continue our mission of finding the causes of and cures for childhood cancers.”

GRANT FUNDS STUDY ON BONE CANCER STEM CELLS

The laboratory of David M. Loeb, M.D., Ph.D., was awarded a $37,800 grant by The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative to fund his team’s research into identifying Ewing's sarcoma stem cells. Dr. Loeb is assistant professor of oncology and Pediatrics Director of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Program, as well as Co-Director of the Sarcoma Center

His laboratory partners on this project are: Saul J. Sharkis, Ph.D., professor of oncology and medicine; Chi Van Dang, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cell biology; and Jason T. Yustein, M.D., Ph.D., fellow, Pediatric Hematology – Oncology Program.

The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative was founded by Bruce and Bev Shriver in honor of their daughter, Elizabeth (Liddy) Shriver to increase public awareness of sarcoma and raise funds for sarcoma-related research and clinical trials.

Sarcoma Facts from the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative

With more than 1,000 admissions each year, the new unit will include spacious patient rooms with sleeping accommodations for parents, high-tech toys and video games, play rooms, a family room and staff teaching and conference facilities.