A Message From Our Founder

Dear Friends,

For those of us with children, we take great joy in their lives and happiness. In 1991, I was fighting for my nine-year-old son's life as he struggled to survive his four-year battle with leukemia. He died in January 1992, two and half years after his second bone marrow transplant, four years since he was diagnosed. Even though he did not survive, I knew that marrow transplantation was, and still is, the only potential cure for children like John. As a memorial to that brave little boy, I started Kids Beating Cancer, Inc., an organization devoted to unique support services for children like John, and their families. Kids Beating Cancer places its highest priority in recruiting new potential marrow, blood stem cell, and cord blood donors onto the Be The Match Registry, so all children whose survival depends on receiving an unrelated marrow or blood stem cell transplant, regardless of race or economic standing, have the maximum opportunity for a cure. Kids Beating Cancer has recruited and tested tens of thousands of new potential donors willing if ever called upon, to give the gift of life to someone they don't know and may never meet. Over 500 transplants are preformed each month with volunteer donors. The lives that are saved through stem cell transplantation are my tribute to John.

During this time take a moment to think about those you love the most, perhaps a child or a grandchild. If you are fortunate, they are healthy and strong. But not every child today is so lucky. We never know when leukemia, cancer, or similar life-threatening diseases might strike someone we know or love. You can light the way and offer these children and their families HOPE. Kids Beating Cancer is saving lives by recruiting and funding the lab testing necessary to identify marrow and blood stem cell donors for children whose lives depends on receiving a stem cell transplant. These selfless volunteers are willing to give a second chance at life to a child stricken by a life-threatening disease. Helping these children and their families hold their lives together emotionally and financially while struggling with the devastation of the long and complex treatment process, is what Kids Beating Cancer is all about. As a thankful memorial to your healthy child, grandchild, or someone you love, give a unique gift, a contribution to Kids Beating Cancer, in their honor. Your gift will allow children with cancer to have the hope of a cure and a second chance to live, laugh, and “just be a kid.”

God Bless,
Margaret Voight Guedes
CEO, President & Founder