The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation supports patients, their families and caregivers every step of the way during a cancer diagnosis or bone marrow, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) or cord blood transplant. No patient should ever feel alone.
The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation was honored to participate in Charity Day 2013 on September 11. This year, The BMCF was selected as one of the 40 charity beneficiaries that participated in Charity Day 2013. Bill Cowher, analyst for the CBS “NFL Today” show, and former Pittsburgh Steelers Coach, was on-hand as the BMCF’s celebrity ambassador.
Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners originally established Charity Day to commemorate the 658 employees lost in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Each September 11th, the firms donate 100% of global revenue to charities around the world. Celebrities from television, movies, sports, and music work the phones, under the guidance of professional traders, raising money and awareness for causes and organizations.
Honoree Sergio Giralt, Chief of the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center was singled out for his outstanding achievements in the field of bone marrow transplantation with the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation’s inaugural Dr. E. Donnall Thomas Award. ABC-TV’s Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, who is a patient of Dr. Giralt’s, presented Dr. Giralt with this prestigious honor and recognition.
The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation’s Be A Lifeline Gala was held on May 16. The evening was successful and inspiring with over 220 guests in attendance and over $500,000 raised. Those honored were Dr. Sergio Giralt with the Dr. E. Donnall Thomas Award, Charlotte Moss with the Brandon Tartikoff Award and Seun Adebiyi with the Gift of Life Award.
The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation’s Be A Lifeline Gala on May 16 was co-hosted by Good Morning America co-anchors Josh Elliott and Sam Champion. Since 1992, The BMCF has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for bone marrow, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT), and cord blood transplant patients and their families by providing vital financial assistance, educational information, and emotional support programs.
Honoree Sergio Giralt, Chief of the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center was singled out for his outstanding achievements in the field of bone marrow transplantation with the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation’s inaugural Dr. E. Donnall Thomas Award. ABC-TV’s Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, who is a patient of Dr. Giralt’s, presented Dr. Giralt with this prestigious honor and recognition.
Executive Director and Founder of the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation, Christina Merrill, stated “Naming a physician’s award after the father of transplantation is one of the highest distinctions a transplant doctor can receive and I was so pleased that Mrs. Thomas endorsed this honor in memory of her late husband.”
The Dr. E. Donnall Thomas Award celebrates the groundbreaking work of the late Dr. E. Donnall Thomas and honors medical professionals who continue to exemplify his outstanding achievements in the field of bone marrow transplantation. Dr. Thomas forever changed the world of cancer treatment when he pioneered bone marrow transplantation at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, a breakthrough that stands among the world’s most significant medical advances and earned him the 1990 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. The lives of thousands of patients with a variety of cancers and blood disorders are saved every year as a result of the work of Dr. E. Donnall Thomas and those who continue to work in the field of transplantation.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Giralt stated “How honored and privileged I am that the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation has awarded me with their first [Dr.] E. Donnnall Thomas award, the father of the field that I love and cherish.”
On May 4 and 5, golfers and their guests attended our Annual Sports Legends Golf Classic. The event raised awareness to help support the BMCF’s efforts to help families who are facing the overwhelming costs associated with bone marrow/Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) transplants.
We are grateful to all who attended; you made a difference in the lives of many children and adults facing a difficult challenge.
Honoree NFL coach, Bill Cowher and Jason Bolton
The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation is proud to announce that the organization’s founder and Executive Director, Christina Merrill, has been selected to receive Traditional Home magazine’s 2011 Classic Woman Award. In its November/December 2011 issue, the magazine profiles five women who are making a measurable difference in their communities and in the lives of others. This year, supporters and the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation board members Charlotte Moss and Meg Braff nominated Christina in recognition of her tireless efforts on behalf of bone marrow recipients and their families. For almost 20 years, Christina has passionately fought to provide the funding and resources that those affected by cancer and other genetic disorders so desperately need. Christina Merrill has touched the lives of thousands of children and adults since she began the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation in 1992.
Click here to read the profile of Christina in Traditional Home. Below, watch the video of Christina that the magazine produced for the awards luncheon, held in New York City.