This Makes the Fifth International Chapter for the Local Nonprofit
The Cure Starts Now Foundation is proud to announce its Japan chapter as the most recent to join the local nonprofit in its fight to cure cancer.
In June, Japan became the 56th chapter to work with The Cure Starts Now to raise funds that go toward research into childhood brain cancers that are especially aggressive and in most cases fatal.
“Expanding internationally allows us to help a greater number of families, and also to have access to talent overseas that may help shed new light on the work being done in the fight against childhood cancer,” said Brooke Desserich, CEO and co-founder of The Cure Starts Now. “We very much look forward to improving our spectrum of expertise with researchers who have viewpoints from other cultures and countries.”
The organization now has 51 chapters across the United States and five international chapters. This marks significant expansion since its founding in 2007 in Cincinnati after Desserich’s daughter passed away at age 6 due to a rare brain cancer called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
The Cure Starts Now chapters are typically started when a family affected by cancer feels motivated to help raise money toward finding a cure for childhood cancer. In most cases, Desserich says, they reach out to ask how they can become involved. Chapters are able to fundraise in honor of their friends and family without having to set up a 501(c)(3).
The Japan chapter has already held two events with another one in the works. Funds raised by all chapters go directly toward the foundation’s mission of pursuing cancer research on those fronts that offer the most promise. To date, the foundation's 56 chapters have helped The Cure Starts Now raise over $37 million toward research and support in collaboration with its partners.
“The enthusiasm of our international chapters and the passion that they bring is amazing,” said Jackie Criswell, director of Chapter and Family Relations for The Cure Starts Now. “One of the benefits of becoming a chapter is that we handle the legal side of things. The chapters are then able to focus on honoring their child. The resiliency of being able to sort through their grief speaks volumes for what these families want to do and the change they want to make.”
The Japan chapter got its start after the father of a child with cancer, Takao Nukui, read Notes Left Behind, the memoir written by Desserich and her husband Keith about their daughter’s cancer battle. After traveling overseas to meet in person, Nukui banded together with nine others in Japan who are also affected by cancer. Those 10 individuals now make up the board of The Cure Starts Now Japan.
“Our goal is to find a cure for cancer,” Desserich said. “Working with chapters worldwide can help us find treatments closer to home for families who are in the fight, as well as bring even more awareness to the critical fact that learning as much as we can about childhood brain cancer may be the key to unlocking the cure for all cancers.”
Inspired by so many children who are diagnosed with cancer, The Cure Starts Now supports over 200 fundraising events a year worldwide, from golf outings and runs to galas and festivals.
The Cure Starts Now has 51 domestic chapters in 24 U.S. states and five international chapters across Canada, Australia and Japan.
To find a chapter near you, visit thecurestartsnow.org/who-we-are/chapters/
