Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer teams up with USC Baseball Coach Ray Tanner to present $42,000 to Palmetto Health
USC Baseball Coach Ray Ranner (second from right) presents Palmetto Health with a $42,000 donation with the Owen Family.
COLUMBIA, SC, Nov. 5, 2007 – USC baseball coach Ray Tanner joined forces with Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer today in presenting a $42,000 check to Palmetto Health Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders to fund cutting-edge cancer research.
The money was raised from the 3rd Annual Killian Owen Memorial Golf Tournament held in Orangeburg on June 30, and by the donations of hundreds of young baseball, soccer, football and basketball players in South Carolina who made donations to Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer. The Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer program urges children’s sports teams to make a donation in honor of their coaches instead of buying their coaches a traditional end-of-season gift. In return for the donation CCKC sends the team a Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer gift and a personalized certificate to present to their coach and their donations are used to fund pediatric cancer research. Details are available at www.curingkidscancer.org.
“It’s important that South Carolina’s young cancer patients have access to the most advanced treatments available,” said Coach Tanner. “This donation to Palmetto Health will go a long way in making that a reality.”
Coach Tanner made a personal gift to Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer when he heard about the program.
Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer was inspired by the life of nine-year-old Killian Owen, who lost his battle with leukemia in July 2003. Killian's parents, Clay and Grainne Owen founded Curing Kids' Cancer in Killian’s memory to raise money for cutting edge pediatric cancer research.
“We’re thrilled to once again be able to fund cutting edge cancer research at Palmetto Health,” said Grainne Owen. “By simply redirecting money that would have been spent on a gift for your child’s coach you can help us reach our goal to find a cure for all childhood cancers in our lifetime and your coach is still honored with a meaningful gift!” Today’s donation means that Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer has donated more than $57,000 to Palmetto Health since 2004. The hospital plans on using the money to help pay for a pediatric oncology research nurse.
“All of here at Palmetto Health Richland who care for children with cancer are thrilled with the generous donation from the Owen family and Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer, and grateful to Coach Ray Tanner for all of his efforts,” said Dr. Kevin McRedmond, pediatric oncologist at Palmetto Health. “The key to the cure is research – and the hard work of this wonderful organization will allow us to pursue cutting edge research right here in the Midlands. Children unfortunately affected by cancer can receive state of the art cancer therapy without having to travel to other institutions. Our hats go off to the Owen family, and all of the many volunteers involved in Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer, for their tireless efforts and dedication to the cause of children with cancer.”
Coach Tanner is one of several high profile coaches to become associated with the program. Lee Corso, the acclaimed college football analyst and former head football coach is the charity’s honorary chairman. And Bobby Lutz, head basketball coach of the University of North Carolina Charlotte 49er’s heads up fundraising efforts in Charlotte, N.C.
