The Dallas Cowboys are partnering with TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation, Be The Match and Children’s Health^SMfor the Be A Star, Save A Life marrow donor drive Saturday, February 18^th from 10 A.M. – 2 P.M. 

Thousands of people diagnosed every year with blood cancer and blood diseases need a marrow transplant to survive.  By joining the Be The Match Registry^® anyone can help save a life. 

The Be A Star, Save A Life registry drive will take place at The Star Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters, 1 Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX, 75034.  Joining the registry requires a sample of cells, collected by swabbing the inside of the cheek. Be The Match Registry keeps this sample to compare specific protein markers, called HLA markers, with markers of patients who need a bone marrow transplant. Doctors search Be The Match Registry to find donors with HLA markers that match those of their patients. By joining the registry, you are taking the first step to being the cure for patients with blood cancers like leukemia and other marrow diseases.

To be eligible for the Be A Star, Save A Life marrow drive, you must be between 18 - 44 years old and commit to donating to any patient in need. If you match a patient in need, there are two ways to donate. One way is called PBSC (peripheral blood stem cell) donation. It involves a non-surgical, outpatient procedure called apheresis. The donor receives a drug for 5 days prior to donation that increases the number of cells in the bloodstream. The cells are then collected during donation. Donors are typically back to their daily routine in 1 - 2 days.  A second way is via marrow donation. It is a surgical, outpatient procedure that takes place under anesthesia in a hospital operating room. While the donor is under, doctors collect marrow from the back of the pelvic bone. Donors are typically back to their daily routine within 2 - 7 days. The patient’s doctor will choose the donation method best for the patient.

For more information visit www.DallasCowboys.com/MarrowDrive.

About TeamConnor

TeamConnor hosts events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the III Forks Golf Classic April 30 – May 1; Splash Out Childhood Cancer July 13; National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Concert and Prayer Vigil in September; Color Me Green 5K/10K and Caterpillar Dash at Frisco Square in October; and the Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot in November.  In addition, TeamConnor’s national Coins for Kids with Cancer program raises funds in schools, churches, offices and organizations across the country. 

About Children’s Health?

Children’s Health? is the eighth-largest pediatric health care provider in the nation and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, providing a full spectrum of health care services — from daily wellness and primary care to specialty visits and critical care. Holding eight disease-specific care certifications from The Joint Commission, Children’s Health has been consistently named one of the nation’s top pediatric providers by U.S. News & World Report. The Children’s Health system includes Children’s Medical Center Dallas, as well as Children’s Medical Center Plano, Our Children’s House inpatient rehabilitation hospital, multiple specialty centers, Children’s Health Pediatric Group primary care practices, rehabilitation facilities, home health, physician services and the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern.

Every year, more than 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children, yet the budget of the National Cancer Institute allocates less than four percent of its funds to pediatric cancer research. TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funding research and treatment programs to find a cure for all childhood cancers.  

For more information on how to impact the lives of those affected by childhood cancer, please visit teamconnor.org or find us at Facebook.com/TeamConnor.

The Plano East Baseball program is offering a Winter Baseball Clinic for boys currently in grades K – 6 on Saturday, February 4 at Plano East Senior High School Baseball Field, at 3000 Los Rios Boulevard in Plano.

The clinic for kindergarten thru third grade students will be 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Fourth thru sixth graders will be 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. The cost is $25 per student, which includes all clinic as well as a t-shirt. Non-Plano residents add $4.

The clinic will focus on fundamental baseball skills such as fielding, hitting, and base running. All activities will be led by Plano East Baseball players. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet the coaches and hear about the opportunities available in high school baseball.
 
Registration through the City of Plano is available on-line through Friday, February 3. You will need a Family Account PIN and an Individual ID Number, both of which can be obtained by calling a Plano recreation center (Liberty 972-769-4234, Muehlenbeck 972-769-4404, or Carpenter 972-208-8087). Once you have obtained these account numbers, go to www.planoparks.org and click on register here. Use the appropriate course code (Grades K – 3 #191010 – Grades 3 – 6 #191013) On the day of the clinic, the student can be registered via a phone call to a recreation center.

Athletic wear and shoes with baseball pants or sweatpants are preferred. Dress appropriately for the weather. Clinic will be held rain or shine and will meet in the indoor facility during inclement weather. No refunds will be given due to weather. Bring a bat and glove with all personal items marked with a name.

A parent or guardian of a student already registered must sign a waiver before the student can participate in the clinic. Waivers will be available at check-in on the day of the clinic. A parent must accompany the student to check-in at the concession stand west of the baseball field. Check-in begins 30 minutes prior to the clinic start.
 
The Plano East Baseball program is under the direction of Head Coach Jordan Byrd, Assistant Varsity Coach Scott Cattleman, Junior Varsity Head Coach Michael Martinez, Assistant Junior Varsity Coach John Lubow, McMillen Head Coach Cole McLean, McMillen Assistant Coach DeMarcus Mathes, Williams Head Coach Shane Kevlar and Williams Assistant Coach Efe Osawemwenze.  For more information, go to planoeastbaseball.com

TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation announced a $25,000 DFW Community Choice Grant that one hospital in North Texas will receive based on the community’s vote throughout the month of December. 

Voting for the TeamConnor DFW Community Choice Grant is open to the public from December 1 – 29, 2016.  All votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced by 5:00 pm on December 30^th.  To vote, the community should visit TeamConnor.org/DFWCommunityChoiceGrant.

“We are committed to funding more research for childhood cancers and supporting patient programs at the best hospitals in the DFW area,” said Kathryn Copple, executive director of Dallas-based TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation. “As one of the leading causes of deaths among children, childhood cancer receives very little government funding for research. TeamConnor has awarded more than $2 million in funding over the last eight years and wants to continue to fight childhood cancer and help our area hospitals with funding.” 

Every year, more than 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children; yet, the budget of the National Cancer Institute allocates less than four percent of its funds to pediatric cancer research. TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funding research projects to find a cure for all childhood cancers.   

TeamConnor hosts several events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot on December 8; the III Forks Golf Classic and Auction Dinner; Splash Out Childhood Cancer; Watters Creek National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Concert and Prayer Vigil; and the Color Me Green 5K, 10K and Caterpillar Dash. 

In addition, TeamConnor’s national program, Coins for Kids with Cancer raises funds in schools, churches, offices and organizations across the country to help fund childhood cancer research. More information about the program can be found at coinsforkidswithcancer.org.

For more information on how to impact the lives of those affected by childhood cancer, please visit teamconnor.org or find us at Facebook.com/TeamConnor.

Alaina Thompson was only five years old when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer.  After weeks of doctor’s visits, Alaina was sent for a scan, which revealed a primary tumor on her left adrenal gland and a secondary tumor on her chest and neck. The cancer had already spread to her bones and bone marrow and she was only given a 30% chance of surviving to remission.  In November 2015 at the age of 15, Alaina received her eight-year checkup with no evidence of disease, and has been officially declared “in remission” for the past three years.  

Alaina was the honorary hero at the October 6^th Color Me Green 5k, 10k and Caterpillar Run benefiting TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation. The event raised more than $40,000 for childhood cancer research.  Alaina, a student at Lone Star High School in Frisco, helped turn the Frisco Square into a sea of green to honor all the kids battling cancer and those who have lost their battle with cancer. 

“When you get a diagnosis that literally sucks the air out of you, you just want encouragement that there will be a tomorrow,” said Cindy Thompson, Alaina’s mother. “I find miracles every day we have Alaina in our life and how far we have come in our fight with childhood cancer.”

At age 15 with no evidence of disease, Alaina continues to live her life to the fullest.  In her spare time you could catch her painting, drawing, playing the flute in her high school band or hanging out with friends. While undergoing treatments, Alaina decided she would like to be a doctor and plans to attend medical school. 

The treatments Alaina received during her fight with cancer are not without side effects. Alaina has to deal with hearing loss, leg pain, memory issues, kidney damage, non-functioning ovaries, early stage osteoporosis, growth and puberty issues, and diabetes. 

“We are humbled for Alaina to be our Color Me Green honorary hero,” said Joy Cruse, founder of the TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation.  “Connor fought neuroblastoma, too. In fact, he beat neuroblastoma, but developed a secondary cancer due to the radiation used to fight neuroblastoma. His secondary cancer proved fatal. Events like the Color Me Green are essential to bring awareness to childhood cancer and help in the race to find a cure.”

TeamConnor hosts several events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the December 8^th Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot, the III Forks Golf Classic & Auction Dinner, and the September National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Concert at Watters Creek. In addition, TeamConnor’s national Coins for Kids with Cancer ™ program raises funds in schools, churches, offices and organizations.

TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is the legacy of eight-year-old Connor Cruse of Frisco who lost his four-year battle with neuroblastoma in 2009. TeamConnor has awarded more than $2 million in funding for childhood cancer research and patient programs across the country since 2008.  

Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes. In the United States, cancer kills more children every year than AIDS, asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and congenital anomalies combined. Yet, the National Cancer Institute allocates less than four percent of its funds to pediatric cancer research. TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to serving families, building awareness, and raising funds for research to help cure childhood cancer.

For more information on how to join the fight against childhood cancer, please visit teamconnor.org or Facebook.com/TeamConnor. 

TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation presented a check to Cook Children’s for more than $10,000, which will support the Creative Artist in Residence Programme (CARPE) within the hospital. The funds were raised during the 2016 III Forks Golf Classic Dinner.

In 2015, TeamConnor established the Art Box Program at Cook Children’s with the help of a grant from Northpark Center. This program support patients at Cook Children’s Hematology and Oncology Center. Children with severely compromised immune systems are often kept in the isolation unit for 30 – 75 days at a time with limited contact with family members and no in-person contact with friends.  

TeamConnor funds personalized boxes of arts & crafts materials, including paints, crayons, markers, coloring books, ipads, and other creative items to stimulate a child’s creativity and bring joy while they’re undergoing life-saving stem cell transplants.

Cook Children’s has found that the Art Box Program provides essential components of quality pediatric health care by supporting the child’s psychological and emotional needs while easing their feelings of isolation and loneliness. 

For more information about TeamConnor and its programs, visit teamconnor.org.