Curing Kids Cancer

Five-year-old Killian Owen was like many other boys his age. The green-eyed little blonde loved playing any kind of sport: baseball, basketball and swimming were among his favorites. He and his twin brother, Garrett, enjoyed playing and competing together.

And then, on December 10, 1999, Killian was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, the most common (and curable) type of childhood cancer.

Killian fought hard. From chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, to an experimental targeted treatment at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

One of his brother’s coaches was so moved by Killian’s brave fight, he asked the team to forego the customary end-of-season gift. Instead, he asked that a donation be made to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where Killian was being treated.

Despite the best efforts of those caring for Killian and his own determination, the leukemia’s intense hold was too strong. It took his life on July 27, 2003.

He was nine years old.

After the devastating loss of their son, Killian, Grainne was moved to do something meaningful to help find cures for childhood cancers.

Since Killian loved all things sports, why not raise funds with kids’ sports teams in mind?

And so, in 2005, Grainne and Clay Owen founded Curing Kids Cancer in order to celebrate Killian’s life and fund research that will find cures for childhood cancer.

The organization began as Coaches Curing Kids Cancer. Pulling inspiration from that first coach’s generosity, the initial format for fundraising was established: instead of giving gifts to coaches at the end of a season, teams could donate money in their coaches’ honor.

The goal was to raise $5,000 the first season and give that money to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where Killian was treated, for ongoing pediatric cancer research.

The program far exceeded the initial goal, raising $45,000 in its first year!

Inspired by her son’s battle, Grainne has turned Curing Kids Cancer into an effective nonprofit dedicated to funding cutting-edge treatments of childhood cancers — treatments that can save the lives of children like Killian.

While Coaches Curing Kids Cancer still remains an integral fundraising initiative, the CKC brand has expanded well beyond the realm of sports teams.

We work in Killian’s memory for children who need a cure.
We will fund cures.
We will find cures.

Finding cures for childhood cancers
requires finding doctors and research facilities
that are breaking new ground in pediatric cancer research.

GRAINNE OWEN,
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CURING KIDS CANCER

Since 2005, CKC funds have supported research at 52 MEDICAL FACILITIES, in 29 STATES. Internationally, CKC has funded work in 7 COUNTRIES including Europe, Canada, and Africa all of which share our heart for cures.

Curing Kids Cancer seeks to honor the incredible families affected by pediatric cancers.

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Some of these fighters have a research fund available in their honor, allowing you to directly support a cause close to your heart.

PHYSICAL ADDRESS
420 Decker Dr.,
Suite 150
Irving, TX 75062