St. Jude patient Drew and his family pose for a photo before the second annual St. Jude Hope in the Hamptons in July.
St. Jude Hope in the Hamptons — a New York fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — had a lot to celebrate in its second year.
Hosted by grandparents of St. Jude patient Drew, the July 9 event raised nearly $400,000, bringing the two-year total to more than $900,000.
But even more exciting, Drew celebrated his No Mo’ Chemo Party at St. Jude earlier this year. The party is a St. Jude tradition that signifies the end of a patient’s cancer treatment.
Drew’s family and care team brought confetti, cake and tears of joy to the party at St. Jude marking the end of his chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer.
“This is what St. Jude does,” Shawna, Drew’s mother, said. “They fix kids who have cancer.”
Celebration of the completion of Drew’s treatment continued at St. Jude Hope in the Hamptons.
St. Jude has increased the survival rates for ALL from 4 percent before opening in 1962 to 94 percent today. St. Jude's expertise in developing and delivering treatments for childhood cancer was an important factor in the decision Drew’s family made to come to St. Jude.
Drew’s grandparents, Sue and Dave, initiated the fundraising event on their horse farm last year as a way to give back to the hospital where their grandson has received treatment. Because of the support from events like St. Jude Hope in the Hamptons, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
“Knowing that we would never receive a bill from St. Jude, my husband and I can talk about what to do for Drew versus how we’re going to pay for treatment,” Shawna said. “It changes your whole mindset.”
Attended by 560 people, St. Jude Hope in the Hamptons featured live and silent auctions, a dinner, and a performance by Majic Music. Sponsors for the event included: Karen and Bob Kelly, Annette and Matt Lauer, Corcoran Group Real Estate, the Borg family and Hutton & Solomon LLP.