On Monday, the PaulieStrong Foudnation held the inaugural Drive for a Cure golf outing, with thousands of dollars being directly donated to the Department of Pediatrics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.
The PaulieStrong Foundation was founded by Paul Jimenez and Iona Kreatsoulas Jimenez last year, after their son lost a two and a half month battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare pediatric cancer that forms on the soft tissue. After being diagnosed in October, he passed away in January.
According to Paul, childhood cancer receives less than 4 percent of all cancer research funding, prompting him to raise awareness of the inequities.
“He was such a fun loving and amazing child who was loved by so many. He was our world, and we miss him so very much,” his father said. “Until you are pulled into the world of childhood cancer, you just do not realize how little funding goes to support research into a cure.”
On Monday, dozens flocked to the Scarsdale Golf Club, where they were treated to lunch, a gift bag and round on the links. Following golf, the organization hosted dinner at Rudy’s in Hartsdale where there was a private auction.
“The goal of the PauliStrong Foundation, through our partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is to raise awareness and funding for researching a cure for pediatric cancers,” Paul added. “Today’s children are the world’s future and they deserve more than 4 percent.”
Since its founding less than eight months ago, the PaulieStrong Foundation has raised nearly $200,000 to benefit pediatric sarcoma research at Sloan Kettering.
“Pediatric cancers are vastly underfunded,” Kelli Klasko said from Memorial Sloan Kettering. “Therefore, philanthropic support from the PaulieStrong Foundation is crucial in advancing breakthrough research and clinical trials for pediatric cancers.”
Click here to follow Daily Voice New Rochelle and receive free news updates.