Smarties, mark your calendars for AdamFest this weekend where families can enjoy carnival rides, live entertainment, inflatables, face painting, snacks and meet Sir Purr – while helping ensure that children with cancer can continue to get treatment in Charlotte. Like Adam Tanksley did.
AdamFest, held during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, is the flagship fundraising event of the Adam Faulk Tanksley Foundation, one of the supporting members of the Carolina KIDS Cancer Research Coalition.
The foundation’s goal is to raise $500,000 for the coalition, which was established during the depths of the economic downturn in 2010. Carolinas HealthCare Foundation — the philanthropic arm of Carolinas HealthCare System — united small charities to fund local cancer research and treatment. The coalition pledged nearly $6 million to support Phase I and Phase II clinical research trials at Levine Children’s Hospital, the first steps toward finding new treatments.
“Our goal is to raise awareness and as much funding as possible for pediatric cancer in our community. Families will do whatever is necessary when they learn that their child has cancer. We are so thankful that these children can be treated with the best and newest treatments right here at home. LCH has, in fact, been named as a leading hospital for treating pediatric cancer in 2012,” says Mike Tanksley, Adam’s father.
When Adam Tanksley was diagnosed at age 3 with Stage IV Anaplastic Wilms’ Tumor, a rare childhood kidney cancer, he and his family were able to stay in Charlotte for treatment only because Levine Children’s Hospital has greatly expanded its cancer program. In the past five years, it has tripled its number of doctors and offered more kinds of treatments. The hospital’s Torrence E. Hemby Jr. Hematology and Oncology Center has quickly become one of the top pediatric cancer centers in the Southeast.
Before the expansion at Levine, some local children with cancer had to seek treatment far from home. Being far away from their usual support systems added to their fear and anxiety. This also meant an often-crippling financial burden for families.
Adam was diagnosed with a 20 percent chance for survival. Today, after spending 325 nights in Levine Children’s hospital, multiple surgeries including removal of his right kidney and half of his left lung, more than 120 rounds of chemotherapy and 18 days of radiation at Levine, Adam’s cancer is in remission.
Active founding members of the coalition are the Leon Levine Foundation, the Alex Hemby Foundation, the Adam Faulk Tanksley Foundation, the Baby J Ladley Fund, the Wells Fargo Championship, Brett’s Ride for Rhabdo and 24 Hours ofBooty. Active sustaining members are Children’s Medical Fund, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, the Keep Pounding 5K Stadium Run and the Nutcracker Ball.
AdamFest Event Details
When? 11 a.m-8 p.m. on 9/15
Where? Ballantyne Corporate Park, John J Delaney and Brixham Hill Drive.
Cost? Admission is FREE. Armbands for kids are $20, which include unlimited rides and help bring the best pediatric cancer research to Charlotte.
Click here to learn more about the Adam Faulk Tanksley Foundation. Click here to learn more about the coalition: www.GiveCarolinas.org/fight.
About the Carolinas Kids Cancer Research Coalition
The Carolinas KIDS Cancer Research Coalition is a group of nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting pediatric cancer research and services at Levine Children’s Hospital. The Coalition has received commitments of $5.7 million to support Phase I and Phase II clinical research trials, which provide enhanced treatment options to children in the Carolinas who are battling cancer. Active founding members of the Coalition are The Leon Levine Foundation, The Alex Hemby Foundation, The Adam Faulk Tanksley Foundation, The Baby J Ladley Fund, the Wells Fargo Championship, Brett’s Ride for Rhabdo and 24 Hours of Booty. Active sustaining members are Children’s Medical Fund, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, the Keep Pounding 5K Stadium Run and the NutcrackerBall. Go to www.GiveCarolinas.org/fight for more information.
The Coalition is administered by Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, a charitable nonprofit organization that supports the work of Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS). Levine Children’s Hospital, a unit of CHS, offers a scope of pediatric care and depth of expertise that is unmatched in the Charlotte region with board-certified physicians providing more than 40 specialized pediatric services.
