Children’s Cancer Research Fund

• Children’s Cancer Research Fund traces its roots to 1979, when 13-year-old Katie Hageboeck was nearing the end of a 16-month battle with leukemia. Before she died, Katie asked that the money she had saved for a new bicycle be donated to childhood cancer research.

• Inspired by Katie, her parents, Diana and Norm Hageboeck, committed themselves to supporting childhood cancer research and helped establish CCRF as a nonprofit organization.

• In 1981, the Hageboecks organized the first Dawn of a Dream fundraising event. The event evolved into Dream, CCRF’s signature gala, which has raised more than $26 million for childhood cancer research.

• What began as a small, family-driven effort in Minnesota has grown into a national nonprofit organization supporting childhood cancer research across the United States.

• Since 1981, CCRF reports that it has contributed more than $235 million to childhood cancer research, education and awareness, and programs supporting children and families.

• Today, CCRF funds researchers across the country, with particular emphasis on hard-to-treat childhood cancers, survivorship and health disparities.