August 7th, 2014

August 7th, 2014

Dear Friends of Christopher Gibney,

Our Little Rainbow Dragon:

In November of 2007, Christopher was recovering from a month of full body radiation at Kaiser Sunset, Los Angeles after suffering a relapse of neuroblastoma the previous August. Neuroblastoma is a devastating, highly aggressive solid tumor cancer of the sympathetic nervous system. It is the most common cancer in infants. 70% of all kids diagnosed with neuroblastoma are already at stage IV. The survival rate 5 years after diagnosis is 35%.

For each of the 18 days of radiation, Christopher would be put under a general anesthesia (propofol) His little body was tattooed with targets so the radiation could be aimed precisely. The hope was that we could fight back the relapse and then access the 3FB monoclonal antibodies that were beginning to be available to neuroblastoma patients through Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. 3F8 antibodies attach themselves to neuroblastoma cells and destroy them. Shortly after Christopher’s death in December of 2007, the neuroblastoma healing community began to offer 3F8 antibodies as part of the consolidation phase of treatment after the initial rounds of chemotherapy & surgery rather than wait for a relapse. The hope is to reduce the frequency of relapse in neuroblastoma patients.

We have been tracking the progress of four children who are now currently undergoing the 3F8 antibodies treatment at MSKCC: 2 year old Mae Morinoue, 6 year old Julia Garmo, 2 year old Kylie Rowand and 7 year old Parker David Shaw. A portion of our proceeds www.christophergibney.org will continue to go towards the support of these children and their families.

Direct support to these children and their families can be made at:

Mae Morinoue: www.youcaring.com/maesjourney

Julia Garmo: www.juliasjourney.org

Kylie Rowand: www.prayersforkylie.com

Parker David Shaw: www.teamparker4life.org

With the help of your donations, the Christopher Gibney Foundation has donated over $2,100.00 to support organizations such as the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation http://www.cncfparks.org/help-a-child/ that is committed to funding clinical studies and research aimed at finding a cure for neuroblastoma. We intend also this year to support the efforts of NANT, New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy www.nant.org

The Christopher Gibney Foundation began as the Windsor Music Foundation that David founded in 2003 to support Music Education in Sonoma County in Northern California. Severe cuts in Music Education at that time had eliminated many music programs throughout the region. Christopher was born in 2005 and we then moved to Southern California where David accepted a music teacher position in the Escondido Union School District and where he now continues as the Music Director of the Del Dios Academy of Arts & Sciences. After Christopher’s illness and death we renamed the foundation after him and felt compelled to expand its mission to include increasing awareness of neuroblastoma, supporting research and helping families that are affected by this horrific disease.

The Christopher Gibney Foundation continues to support Music Education. We have donated and provided over 30 band instruments to several elementary & middle school programs including most recently a fine Oboe to a deserving student who otherwise would not have been able to play it in the Winter Concert.

Please come and join us on Saturday, October 18th for the 3rd Annual Fore Christopher Charity Golf Tournament. We offer a wide spectrum of friendly competition with awards being presented for best “net” and best “gross” score as well as “highest score”, “longest drive”, and “closest to the pin” off of the green. Our awards reception will feature a sumptuous Mexican Buffet catered by Rico’s Cantina at Redhawk Golf Club in the renowned Temecula Valley Wine Country and includes beer, wine & well drinks.

If you are a golfer, please register a foursome as soon as possible and join us on Saturday, October 18th at Redhawk Golf Club in Temecula. Redhawk is a magnificent championship course and the staff is exceptionally friendly. We will have a wonderful fun filled day. Registration and donations can be mailed to us or accomplished online at www.christophergibney.org The proceeds will help us to continue our work.

Whether you attend or not, please consider as generous a donation as possible. Whether the amount is $5.00, $10.00, $25.00, $50.00, $100.00, $500.00, $1,000.00, $2,500, $5,000 or more, we deeply appreciate your thoughtful generosity.

The Christopher Gibney Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, so your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. (Tax I.D. 26-0068700)

Thank you for your consideration in helping us honor and remember our beloved son by assisting others. In Memory of Christopher and with Hope for the Future.

Quynh & David Gibney

Christopher Gibney Foundation www.christophergibney.org

P.O. Box 893010 Temecula, California 92589

949 702-3754 christopher@christophergibney.org

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