OCEANPORT – Kortney’s Challenge drew more than 500 supporters to Monmouth Park. raising over $64,000 that will directly benefit The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) pediatric brain tumor research consortium.
The Kortney Rose Foundation (KRF) announced a record 52 percent increase in funds raised at the 10th Annual Family Fun Run on Aug. 9 to support research for pediatric brain cancer, the number one tumor-related cause of death in children under age 19.
According to the foundation, the record amount of funds raised is due to increased awareness of the cause and an increase in the number of fund-raising teams and individual fundraisers that raised money online in advance of the race.
The Kortney Rose Foundation presents a check to CHOP annually, with donations to date totaling $1 million to support research for pediatric brain cancer, the number one tumor-related cause of death in children under age 19.
During opening remarks, Kristen Gillette, president of The Kortney Rose Foundation, emphasized that, “Only four percent of the National Cancer Institute’s research budget is allocated to all forms of pediatric cancer research. It’s a crime, and it places the onus almost entirely on small, private foundations like ours to fund life- saving research for children with brain and spinal cord tumors.”
Trophies were awarded to the top three males and females aged 12 and under as well as the top three males and females aged 13 and over.
Following the Family Fun Run, guests were invited to attend the Day at the Races picnic event hosted by the Oceanport PBA.
The Kortney Rose Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charity created by Kortney’s parents, after her death in 2006 from a rare brain tumor, to create her legacy of helping other children through the promise of research.
Since inception the foundation has built a playground in Kortney’s name, donated $1 million to the pediatric brain tumor research program at CHOP and helped establish its world-class Children’s Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC.org). For more information, visit www.thekortneyrosefoundation.org.