775-825-0888
3550 Barron Way #9a • Reno, Nevada 89511
The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation has decided to avoid potential exposure of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to our families, participants, and community. We serve many children with compromised immune systems and their health, and that of our community and staff, is our highest priority.
We are grateful for your understanding at this time, and want to make sure that your experience is as rewarding as it should be. Host your team or shave by yourself with your favorite hairdresser or barber. NNCCF staff will be contacting team captains on how to best help their team with a virtual shave. We encourage you to share your experience virtually on social media, by posting or hosting it live. Check out this guide on how to set up Facebook Live. Be sure to tag @nvkidscancer and @stbaldricks and use the hashtag #ShavefortheBrave #VirtualShave2020.
Your profile for Shave for the Brave on the St. Baldrick’s site is still active, and you can continue to receive online donations from your supporters. Please read the guidelines on sending your cash donations to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, and please send all checks directly to St. Baldricks with the completed donation form. Remember to fill out the forms with Event Title: Shave for the Brave and Event ID# 45.
Thank you for your participation and efforts in fundraising. This event has made a significant impact on childhood cancer research in the last 15 years, and we want to make sure that your hard work and efforts are recognized. You have helped raise more than $2.8 million in research funds, and this year you have already raised more than $100,000. Please mark your calendars for our 2021 event, on March 5, 2021.
Every 2 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and one out of five of them will not survive. Your support makes a difference for them. Your contributions and fundraising efforts will help researchers find safer treatments for growing bodies, and someday a cure for childhood cancer.
Thank you for your unwavering support.
Press Release –
(Reno, NV) – The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation (NNCCF) is pleased to announce a special evening with San Francisco Giants Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and former major league pitcher, Mike Krukow, along with his wife, Jennifer Krukow, at the second annual A Giant Event for Childhood Cancer.
United in the fight against cancer, this event will benefit northern Nevada children with cancer, along with supporting research through the Posey Family Fellowship and Research Grants. Guests will enjoy a lively evening with music, food, and one-of-a-kind live and silent auction items, including a custom gold ribbon guitar signed by Willie Mays and Barry Bonds, a signed Sandy Koufax jersey, a spring training experience package, and much more.
Tickets: $750 per attendee
When: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 – 6 p.m.
Where: Reno, Nevada – event address provided upon RSVP
Donate online: www.nvchildrenscancer.org/donate
To learn more, please visit www.nvchildrenscancer.org/giants
Supporters interested in attending are encouraged to email Briley@nvchildrenscancer.org or call the NNCCF office at (775)825-0888. Tickets are subject to availability.
1 out of 185 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20. This event helps local families in the fight and encourages more support for research and a cure. In its first year, this event raised more than $74,000 for the cause. Since 2000, NNCCF has supported local families with more than $4.6 million dollars in support through financial and emotional assistance during and after a child’s diagnosis.
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The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation is the region’s only non-profit solely dedicated to serving local children and their families affected by childhood cancer. NNCCF’s programs and services include the Family Assistance Fund, Inspire survivorship program, Hope for the Holidays program and emotional support through counseling and family activities. For more information, call (775) 825-0888, visit www.nvchildrenscancer.org or follow on social media @NVKidsCancer.
Press Release –
Highly Visual Event: 200 participants shave their heads for childhood cancer research – elementary students, sheriff & fire departments, community businesses, and families affected by cancer.
(Reno, NV) – The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation (NNCCF) invites the community, schools, and businesses, to support the 14th annual Shave for the Brave, the head-shaving event raising funds for childhood cancer research. This event helps NNCCF’s mission to contribute to the cure of childhood cancer.
Shave for the Brave 2019 is a family-friendly event and free to attend. Bringing family and friends to help cheer on participants is highly encouraged. The event is on Friday before St. Patrick’s Day– expect to see creativity with costumes and team t-shirts. The opening ceremony will kick off with river dancers and a bagpipe performance.
When: Friday, March 15, 2019 – 6–8:30 p.m.
Where: The Reno Ballroom, 401 N. Center Street, Reno, NV 89501
Donate online: www.stbaldricks.org/donate/event/45/2019
Participants (those shaving their heads) must Pre-Register online at https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/Reno2019, create a team or sign up as an individual, then start collecting pledges. Participants are asked to raise a $100.00 minimum to shave at this event.
To donate to childhood cancer research, make a donation online at www.stbaldricks.org/donate/event/45/2019 or visit www.nvchildrenscancer.org for more information.
In partnership with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, NNCCF’s annual Shave for the Brave event has raised more than $2.6 million since 2006, and shaved more than 3,800 local heads! NNCCF’s 2018 event came in at #16, out of 1,081 events, with $215,114.51 raised for childhood cancer research. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation awarded 140 grants to some of the best childhood cancer researchers in the world last year. This includes more than 230 institutions conducting 116 clinical trials that can save kids’ lives.
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About NNCCF (Local Host)
The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation is the region’s only nonprofit solely dedicated to serving local children and their families affected by childhood cancer. NNCCF’s programs and services include the Family Assistance Fund, Inspire survivorship program, Adopt-a-Family program and emotional support through counseling and family activities. For more information, call (775) 825-0888, visit www.nvchildrenscancer.org or follow on social media @NVKidsCancer.
About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s is leading the charge to take childhood back from cancer by funding some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts who are working to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best cancer treatments for kids.
Our goal is to raise $200,000 to support more research grants and clinical trials that can save kid’s lives. We are almost there! Visit to donate.
On Friday, March 15, 2019, we held our 14th annual Shave for the Brave event to raise funds for childhood cancer research. At the downtown Reno Ballroom, we hosted 223 participants to shave their heads in support of finding a cure for cancer. Participants from all around Nevada joined this spectacular event.
Thank you to our participants and the generous people supporting our participants for contributing to childhood cancer research. The success of our Shave of the Brave event is because of you, and we are grateful for your generous hearts.
As of today, participants and donors have raised $182,154, but the fundraising isn’t over. The community is still finding ways to raise funds and help researchers find better treatments. If you would like to support our event, an individual or a team to reach their fundraising goal, click here. The 2019 grand total of money raised for childhood cancer research will be announced in July when the event officially wraps up.
Remember – childhood cancer research helps adults too! According to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation “Much of what we know about treating adult cancers has been learned from childhood cancer research. Some aspects of cancer treatment today, such as combination chemotherapy, can be traced to pediatric cancer research.”
Fundraising for our Shave for the Brave event is unique because of the head-shaving element. Participants collect donations and pledges to reach their goal, then they step onto the big stage and a barber shaves their head. Many participants shave in memory or in honor of a family member, friend, coworker or another inspirational individual – some participants are cancer survivors themselves.
Our first head-shaving event for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation took place in 2006. We shaved 61 heads and raised $86,399 for childhood cancer research. Since our first event, we have seen significant advances in childhood cancer research and treatments available. Today, about 90% of kids with the most common type of cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, will live and join the growing population of long-term childhood cancer survivors.
Last year, our Shave for the Brave event was the 16th highest revenue-raising event (out of 1,081 events) for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. And with our help, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation was able to give more than 140 grants to some of the best childhood cancer researchers in the world in 2018. This included more than 230 institutions conducting 116 clinical trials for children with cancer.
We chose the St. Baldrick’s Foundation because they focus solely on childhood cancer research. Their mission is to find cures for childhood cancers and to give survivors long and healthy lives. They are the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants and give kids nationwide access to the very latest in research and clinical trials. They are also great at reviewing grants and only fund the very best in childhood cancer research.
It is part of our mission at NNCCF to advocate for increased research funds, which also includes us doing our own fundraising for childhood cancer research. While we are able to enhance the quality of life for children with cancer in northern Nevada by providing financial assistance and compassionate support programs, we also support the research that will help them beat cancer.
For more pictures of Shave for the Brave 2019, check out our album on Facebook.
Treatment Update: T-cell Therapy
By: Natalie Van Hoozer
T-cell therapy is an up and coming cancer treatment process. Some of our own northern Nevada kids have received or are currently receiving this treatment. T-cell therapy, also called “immunotherapy”, utilizes the existing immune cells in a person’s body to kill cancer cells.
T-cell therapy has been used in clinical trials for patients with B-cell cancers. These include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and the adult cancer chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
As the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia states, the T-cell therapy clinical trial produced some noticeable figures:
– 27 of the 30 patients with ALL went into complete remission for a time after receiving this T-cell therapy.
– 19 of the 30 are still in remission.
– 7 of the 30 experienced a recurrence of the disease.
Here is how the T-cell therapy process works:
Initially, people with certain leukemias and lymphomas, like ALL, NHL, and CLL, have cancerous B-cells. These cells are part of the immune system and therefore are not detected as harmful by the other cells of the immune system, even when they become cancerous. T-cell therapy attempts to solve this problem by altering T-cells, which are also part of the immune system, to detect these cancerous B-cells.
This alteration requires extraction of T-cells from the patient. These T-cells are then programmed to detect a certain protein that is only present on the surface of B-cells. Once, “programmed,” these T-cells are placed back into the patient, where they kill B-cells, cancerous and noncancerous alike. The fact that they kill healthy B-cells is treatable. The important thing to note about this step is that these T-cells are able to continue to flourish inside the patient and even multiply, allowing them to kill B-cells for extended periods of time.
Why T-cell therapy matters:
– It’s personalized. A patient’s own T-cells are used to go after that patient’s specific type of cancer.
– It could potentially be a less invasive alternative to stem cell transplants, which are currently the major treatment for people with ALL. While stem cell transplants are effective for many patients, they can be dangerous and taxing to undergo.
Currently a main side effect of T-cell therapy is cytokine release syndrome, an immune response that can cause the hormone cytokine to trigger fever, aches, drops in blood pressure, and breathing trouble. However, this is currently being combated by immunomodulating drugs, which are now being incorporated into T-cell therapy.
It is also important to note that T-cell therapy is for patients who have not responded to standard chemotherapy and whose disease returns after a bone marrow transplant. What’s more, the number of patients who have received this treatment is small, so further trials will need to be conducted to obtain more concrete results.
However, with the Breakthrough Therapy award from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July of 2014, this treatment provides hope for the future. Hopefully, T-cell therapy can help in the fight against cancers like ALL.
On April 23, the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation (NNCCF) represented the state of Nevada on Capitol Hill in support of the STAR Act. NNCCF childhood cancer survivor, Johnny Hartman, lead the team and shared his story with legislators. In 2016, Johnny was diagnosed with Stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma and completed treatment in May of 2017. We asked him about his trip and how advocating for childhood cancer inspired him.
Q: How was training and the whole run-down on day one?
A: I thoroughly enjoyed training day. The informational sessions made me incredibly excited as I learned how extensive this bill is and how it will be beneficial to so many children and their families. Learning of the new, less-toxic treatment plans researchers are trying to perfect for all pediatric cancers made me excited for the future of immunotherapy and the extinction of chemotherapy.
Q: What was the experience like, meeting legislators on the Hill on day two?
A: The training day was fun, but meeting the legislators was something I will take with me for the rest of my life. First off, it was an honor being given the opportunity to be the voice of pediatric cancer patients across Northern Nevada, but it was profound to also express the importance of the STAR Act by letting our representatives know how essential this bill is for so many families.
Q: Who did you meet with on Capitol Hill?
A: I met with Senator Dean Heller and Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto along with their staffers. I also had the chance to meet staffers from the offices of Representative Mark Amodei and Representative Dina Titus.
Q: Who did you meet from other childhood cancer organizations and what inspiring things did you hear?
A: The training day session was not only a time for soaking up all the information of the STAR Act but also a networking opportunity. I met with other advocates from other states and got to hear of some incredibly empowering stories of other survivors as well as parents of children who have fought, fighting, or are just beginning their cancer journey. Listening to the stories of relapse, children battling cancer even before starting kindergarten, and discovering similarities of common chemotherapy drugs during each other’s treatments all made for profound connections.
Q: How was your experience seeing Capitol Hill and Washington D.C. as a whole?
A: As a person who lives to travel, it was also another gift being able to travel to the most important city in the United States. The history, architecture, and culture of Washington, D.C. is so polarizing to that of the west coast. It was fun being immersed in a society that is a little out of my comfort zone.
Q: What was the most empowering part of the trip?
A: Ultimately, overall, being part of something that could potentially change the future of cancer care was easily the most empowering aspect of the trip.
The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation will be advocating for important childhood cancer issues before Congress this Tuesday, April 24. NNCCF Executive Director, Mary Powell, and childhood cancer survivor, Johnny Hartman, will meet with Nevada state legislators on Capitol Hill to advocate for research dollars designated to childhood cancer.
2017 Childhood Cancer Action Days supporting the STAR Act on Capitol Hill
“It is important our representatives are in touch with the needs of families in our community experiencing childhood cancer,” said Powell. “Access to better healthcare, improved treatments, and the hope for a cure are all issues we encounter in the work we do in northern Nevada.”
From the moment Hartman completed treatment and was considered “cancer free” he wanted to be an advocate for the cause. Sharing his story in Washington D.C. helps remind politicians that childhood cancer isn’t just a statistic on paper, but it affects real, living and breathing, standing-in-front-of-you kids.
“I am passionate about being an advocate for childhood cancer because I want to do everything in my power to make sure children do not have to go through what I faced during my treatment,” said Hartman. “I feel honored to be a part of an organization that devotes their energy to help pediatric cancer patients and their brave families.”
This year, communities from across the United States come together in one unified voice to support the STAR Act. “The Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act is the most comprehensive childhood cancer bill ever taken up by Congress. It would expand opportunities for childhood cancer research, improve efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences and enhance the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors.” – AllianceForChildhoodCancer.org
The main focus of Childhood Cancer Action Days is having the STAR Act passed by the House of Representatives and have a proper appropriation of funding.
“I am most looking forward to bringing awareness to our country’s lawmakers and hopefully making a difference in the lives of young cancer warriors all over the United States by getting important and helpful legislation passed,” said Hartman.
Powell and Hartman are prepared and ready to show members of Congress that childhood cancer needs immediate attention for research and funding. Although the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation is not a state or federally funded nonprofit, advocating for awareness and research is part of the foundation’s mission.
By: Lindsey Gross
Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation is striving to make Shave for the Brave 2018 the best event yet. Our 2018 shave is right around the corner and is hosted at the Reno Ballroom on March 16, 2018, starting at 6:00 pm and ending when the last head is shaved!
Shave for the Brave 2018 is a family-friendly event and we encourage supporters to come out and watch the spectacle. The event is the day before St. Patrick’s Day – expect to see creativity with costumes and team t-shirts. There is a minimum donation of $100 to shave at the event, but entry to attend and support is free.
Click to join our Shave for the Brave 2018 event:
*Note: this link will lead to 2019 event*
[button text=”Join Us” link=”https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/Reno2019″]
NNCCF contributes to childhood cancer research by hosting the Shave for the Brave fundraising event for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. This year, we are celebrating our 13th Shave for the Brave event. Considering our foundation is not a research organization, hosting this fundraiser is an opportunity for us to support pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Last year, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation supported childhood cancer research grants and advocacy with $30,537,369.
Why is fundraising for NNCCF’s Shave for the Brave event important? Here are two facts that you should know:
Here’s how our Shave for the Brave event works: “Shavees” raise money by collecting pledges from family members and friends in support of childhood cancer research. Shavees can fundraise individually or join a team. “Barbers” are certified cosmetologists or barbers that volunteer for the event, and shave participants’ heads with clippers until all hair is gone! Men, women, and children participate in this inspiring event.
To find current teams or to make your own click here. The fundraising platform is easy to use, and you can conveniently share your page with family and friends.
“They say two heads are better than one, so a whole team of bald heads is way better than one bald head. Teams can fundraise together (try a car wash or group garage sale) and encourage one another before, during, and after your head shaving event.” – St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Need help fundraising? Check out these fundraising tips and tricks from St. Baldrick’s. Please do not fundraise via Facebook. All donations made through Facebook fundraisers go directly to the St. Baldrick’s general donation fund, and cannot be transferred to participants, teams, events or other pages.
If you are interested in donating click here. Consider choosing an individual or team that needs a little extra support!
NNCCF’s Shave for the Brave 2017 in Reno raised $227,079 for childhood cancer research. More than 240 people shaved their heads, 21 barbers volunteered their time, and more than 300 people attended. The event made it into St. Baldrick’s Top 20 largest fundraising events. Our top three Shave for the Brave 2017 teams’ accomplishments are below:
Your support is needed to help our teams reach new goals. Each team will be selflessly fundraising around our community to support childhood cancer research. Many teams honor a child that has been affected by cancer, and your donation will help recognize those children and their journey with cancer. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our event contact Lisa@nvchildrenscancer.org
Press release –
Highly Visual Event: More than 200 participants shave their heads for childhood cancer research – elementary students, sheriff & fire departments, community businesses, and families affected by cancer.
(Reno, NV) – The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation (NNCCF) invites the community, schools, and businesses, to support their 13th annual head-shaving event raising funds for childhood cancer research. This event helps NNCCF’s mission to contribute to the cure of childhood cancer.
Friday, March 16, 2018 – 6–8:30 p.m.
Downtown Reno Ballroom, 401 N. Center Street in Reno
Shave for the Brave 2018 is a family-friendly event and free to attend. Bringing family and friends to help cheer on participants is highly encouraged. The event is the day before St. Patrick’s Day – expect to see creativity with costumes and team t-shirts. The beginning ceremony will kick off with river dancers and a bagpipe performance.
Participants (those shaving their heads) must Pre-Register online at https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/Reno2018 –, create a team or sign up as an individual, then start collecting pledges. Participants are asked to raise a $100.00 minimum to shave at this event.
To donate and support childhood cancer research, make a donation online at www.stbaldricks.org/donate/event/45/2018 or visit www.nvchildrenscancer.org for more information.
Since 2006, with the help of the northern Nevada community, NNCCF has raised more than $2,409,000 and shaved 3647 heads for childhood cancer research. NNCCF provides resources for local families affected by childhood cancer but is not a research organization, hosting this fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is an opportunity for NNCCF to support pediatric cancer research.
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About NNCCF (Local Host)
The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation is the region’s only nonprofit solely dedicated to serving local children and their families affected by childhood cancer. NNCCF’s programs and services include the Family Assistance Fund, Inspire survivorship program, Adopt-a-Family program and emotional support through counseling and family activities. For more information, call (775) 825-0888, visit www.nvchildrenscancer.org or follow on social media @NVKidsCancer.
About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s is leading the charge to take childhood back from cancer by funding some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts who are working to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best cancer treatments for kids.
Press release –
March 12, 2018
Sparks, Nevada – This Wednesday, the city of Sparks Fire Department will host a “Shave for the Brave” fundraising event to raise money for children’s cancer research. The pre-shave event, in conjunction with St. Baldrick’s and the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, will be held from 4:00 to 6:30 pm at Fire Station One at 1605 Victorian Avenue.
“We will open our doors and give a red-carpet tour to children and their families who have been affected by cancer,” explained Sparks Firefighter Mike Shaw, organizer of the event. “Sparks Firefighters have supported the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation and St. Baldrick’s for many years and we are proud to host this year’s pre-shave at our department headquarters.”
The children will have to opportunity to check out fire trucks and gear, then several firefighters, including city of Sparks Fire Chief Chris Maples, will shave their heads. The pre-shave event leads up to the March 16 St. Baldrick’s community-wide fundraiser.
“Each year around St. Patrick’s Day, we ask the community to shave their heads and go bald in support of childhood cancer research,” said Lisa Shaffer, Director of Community engagement for the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation. “In partnership with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, our annual ‘Shave for the Brave’ events have raised more than $2.4 million since 2006. We have shaved more than 3,600 local heads, advocating for increased research funds. Our sincere hope is that one day our kids will be cancer-free.”
“This will be the third time I’ve participated,” Fire Chief Chris Maples said. “As a cancer survivor, I wholeheartedly support St. Baldrick’s as they search to cure a disease that affects so many children.”
The Sparks Firefighter’s goal is to raise $7,800. To donate to the Sparks Firefighter’s team, please go to stbaldricks.org/teams/SFD.
