June 14, 2019
MARSHFIELD – Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc. (MACC Fund) leaders Thursday awarded a $100,000 one-year grant to Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation for pediatric cancer research at Marshfield Children's Hospital.
Marshfield Clinic children's pediatric cancer specialists treat childhood cancers and blood disorders and staff the region's only pediatric oncology inpatient unit at Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield.
With MACC Fund's help, the Health System continues partnering with the Children's Oncology Group to access nationwide resources for innovative pediatric oncology research. MACC Fund support has allowed Marshfield Clinic to enroll more than 100 infants, child, adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer in clinical research studies and clinical therapeutic studies. Funds also support a full-time clinical research associate, a full-time clinical research nurse working exclusively with pediatric patients and a second Marshfield Clinic pediatric oncology site in Eau Claire to further serve pediatric oncology patients in western and northwestern Wisconsin.
"MACC Fund's continued generosity and support is critical to our efforts to move medicine forward through pediatric cancer research," said Dr. Susan Turney, Marshfield Clinic Health System CEO. "These grant funds will help us advance cutting-edge research that impacts patients today and into the future."
MACC Fund and Marshfield Clinic Health System began its partnership in 2017 to create a greater collaborative clinical effort between Marshfield Clinic and the other long-established beneficiaries of MACC Fund support, namely Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.
"We are impressed with the great work being done in Marshfield to fight pediatric cancer," said Kevin Steiner, vice chair of MACC Fund's board of directors and president/CEO of West Bend Mutual Insurance Company. "The fact that there have been over 100 children's oncology enrollments demonstrates the difference the Marshfield Clinic Health System is making in the lives of pediatric cancer families. The MACC Fund is committed to assisting the Marshfield Clinic Health System to provide innovative treatments children need, so they have the best chance of becoming survivors."
"This partnership is such a fantastic opportunity to bring together these young athletes who are fundraising for childhood cancer research and show them how their support is making a difference here in Marshfield and all of the surrounding real communities," said Teri Wilczek, Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation chief philanthropy officer. "It's an honor for these athletes to be selected as All-Stars, but a bigger honor to provide hope to children in need. We are so thankful to the MACC Fund for their ongoing partnership and commitment to Marshfield Clinic Health System and Marshfield Children's Hospital. Our pediatric cancer research program is thriving and providing the best possible treatments to children because of their support."
The non-profit MACC Fund was founded in 1976 by Jon McGlocklin, former Milwaukee Bucks player and television color analyst, and Eddie Doucette, former Bucks play-by-play announcer whose son Brett was diagnosed with leukemia as a toddler in 1975. The MACC Fund has contributed over $65 million dollars for childhood cancer and related blood disorder research.
MACC Fund is the beneficiary of the annual Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Boys and Girls All-Star Games June 14-15 in Wisconsin Dells. The WBCA's support of the MACC Fund dating back to 1978 is the second longest standing sponsor following the Milwaukee Bucks.
