How Donations Fuel Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs
When you support the Courage of Carly Fund, you’re not only standing in solidarity with patients and their families, but you’re also doing your part to establish more effective and less invasive treatments for childhood cancer.
One Organization ➡️ Countless Meaningful Results
Here are a few ways your Courage of Carly Donations make a difference.
Research and Clinical Trials
Roswell Park is the only organization in Western New York researching childhood cancer.
Clinical trials are essential to improving survival rates and reducing long-term side effects. Nationally, only about 4% of federal cancer research funding is dedicated to pediatric cancers. Private philanthropy, like Courage of Carly, is essential to fill those gaps.
“It’s not just even about the cure, it’s really about the tolerability of the treatment in both the short term and the long term. I just feel we can do better. And that’s what really drives me to want to be involved in these clinical trials and new research studies. This is how we make a difference, especially for patients in the future,” said Kara Kelly, MD, Chair of Roswell Park Golisano Children’s Buffalo Cancer and Blood Disorders Program.
In 2025, Roswell Park reached several major clinical milestones, including 16 bone marrow and cell therapy infusions — the highest annual total to date. The Transplant and Cell Therapy Program also earned FACT reaccreditation, along with an Optum Center of Excellence designation reflecting national quality standards.
“Right now, the focus is in how we can enhance clinical trials and how can we get more funding for pediatric patients,” said Courage of Carly co-founder Chuck Collard.
Offering Innovative, Personalized Treatment
Cancer treatment is never one-size-fits-all. Funding supports highly individualized care plans that adjust based on each child’s response to therapy.
“Dr. Kelly picked the chemotherapy regimen that allowed me to be less sick and still be involved in my life,” pediatric patient Sophia Baudo said. At Sophia’s bell ringing in August of 2024, she thanked Dr. Kelly for saving her life.
This personalized approach allows children to maintain routines, attend school when possible and remain connected to life outside the hospital.
Accessing childhood cancer care historically required families to travel long distances for advanced treatment. Expanded support has helped more children receive specialized, state-of-the-art care locally at Roswell Park, reducing travel burdens and allowing families to remain connected to their schools, jobs and communities.
“Now we have clinical trials here, so we’re able to keep more families here in Western New York,” Collard said. “That’s less disruption for the siblings, the parents and the extended family.”
Roswell Park is a leader in childhood cancer care nationwide
Western New York is one of only three places nationwide where a freestanding children’s hospital is directly connected to an NCI-designated comprehensive care center.
In fact, since Dr. Kelly came to Roswell Park in 2016, she’s recruited eight faculty members from top children’s hospitals and universities across the country.
“We have taken lead roles in national clinical trials and we’re changing the standard of care for different diseases that we care for,” explained Dr. Kelly. “We’ve developed innovative, multi-disciplinary programs that have truly benefitted our patients.”
Collard added, “We’re blessed to have some incredible clinicians here in Western New York. We’re blessed to have a joint hematology oncology program. We are so blessed because we know we’re getting best in class care. There’s no doubt.”
Supporting Courage of Carly Families
Families navigating childhood cancer or blood disorders are often burdened with overwhelming stress, logistical challenges and emotional strain. Before structured programs existed through Courage of Carly, parents and caregivers frequently navigated treatment without much guidance.
“We didn’t have a lot of support for families. Each family individually had to navigate their own journey,” said Collard.
Today, funding ensures families have access to emotional, educational and therapeutic support through every stage of treatment.
“The resources extend far beyond the patient; it’s the family members as well,” Collard said.
Programs supported through Courage include in-clinic activities, Beads of Courage, comfort packages, treatment milestone celebrations, family counseling services and teen wellness programs designed to support adolescents through diagnosis and recovery.
Letting Kids, Be Kids
Cancer care can last months or even years, and even once a patient is deemed “cancer-free,” many say their diagnosis and experience stays with them forever. That’s why preserving a sense of normalcy is essential. Psychosocial and diversionary programs create opportunities for joy, celebration and connection throughout treatment.
“I really emphasized that I wanted to graduate high school and dance, and Dr. Kelly told me she would do everything in her power to make that possible,” Baudo said.
There are more than 60 hosted every year. These programs include concerts, sporting events, game nights, prom experiences, holiday celebrations and other age-appropriate events that help children continue being kids, even in the midst of treatment.
Donors Like You Strengthen Pediatric Care
Donor-supported research and clinical innovation are helping accelerate real progress in pediatric oncology.
“We’ve been able to maintain really high success rates, but with a lot less therapy. The most recent clinical trial that we reported last year, only 1% of children receive radiation treatment, in contrast to about 75% that had received it with my previous regimen. And we know that that’s going to translate into, much lower risk of side effects in the long term,” said Dr. Kelly. “Seeing how our advancements in just a couple of years made all the difference makes me excited for patients in the future. We are really on the cusp of just transformative changes for many of the diseases that we care for.”
Funding through Courage of Carly supports comprehensive childhood cancer care that extends beyond treatment alone. By investing in research, family stability, clinical innovation, psychosocial support and quality of life programs, Courage of Carly helps ensure children and families receive care rooted in compassion, excellence and hope.
