Aloha Friend,

We, like many of you reading this letter, have undergone the heartache of having a family member diagnosed with cancer. While the disease name or treatment may differ – the financial and emotional stress is often overwhelming.

Each year 50 to 60 families in Hawai’i hear the devastating news that their child has been diagnosed with cancer. Being new parents ourselves, we can’t even begin to comprehend how our world would flip upside-down if a doctor gave us this news.

As a teenager, Deane’s brother Kelly was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Although Kelly fought long and hard to beat the disease, in the end, cancer prevailed. During this battle, the family was carried by the LOVE of friends and family, as well as hundreds of selfless strangers, who did everything from donating platelets to volunteering time at the hospital.

Now as adults, we feel that it is our responsibility to fill the role of a stranger that helps to support other families going through similar strenuous times – which is why we’re writing you today.

Hawai‘i Children’s Cancer Foundation will hold its signature fundraising event at Murphy’s Bar & Grill on Saturday, June 23, 2012 as a way to raise funds for the Hawai’i keiki fighting cancer.

“All you need is LOVE…” is this year’s theme and we’d LOVE your support. Forms are enclosed to reserve a table or donate an auction item for this fun event. Or, simply go to www.HCCF.org to learn about other ways that you can help support this important cause.

Our most sincere thanks to you and the title sponsors for this event: Healthways, HMSA, and HMSA Foundation.

Deane Salter
Event Co-Chair

HCCF Reservation Form 3-12-2012

HCCF Donor Form 3-12-2012

HCCF Donor Letter 3-12-2012

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Get out your green because it’s St. Patrick’s Day! Murphy’s Bar & Grill is putting on its annual block party downtown to celebrate!

Nuuanu Ave. and Merchant St. will be closed so thousands of people dressed in green can celebrate! The block party starts at noon with food and lots of games for the keiki! Don Murphy from Murphy’s Bar & Grill joins us in the kitchen and cooks up some corned beef that you’ll be able to get at the party! They’re also donating portions of the proceeds from the corned beef they sell during the month of March to the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation.  For more information visit Murphy’s website.

“St. Patrick claimed the Shamrock to be representative of faith, hope and charity as well as the Holy Trinity,” said Don Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Bar & Grill. “But for us, the Shamrock means that and much more – it has become our heart line to friends and family near and far.”

The 25th Annual Murphy’s Bar & Grill St. Patrick’s Day celebration will take place at the Honolulu restaurant, located on the corner of Merchant St. and Nuuanu Ave., on Saturday, March 17, 2012. Food will be served in the restaurant starting at 11:00 a.m. with the open-air festival starting at noon. Come enjoy a variety of beers, sprits and food – including the famed corned beef and cabbage that benefits Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation.
Visit www.MurphysHawaii.com for more information.

PDF Download the Press Release

On Saturday, March 17th, come attend the event the brewers of Guinness have declared “the single biggest St. Patrick’s Day party any one bar throws in the United States”!  Murphy’s Bar and Grill opens for lunch in the restaurant at 11:00 a.m. and the open-air festival kicks off at noon with a variety of beers, spirits and food ranging from fish n’ chips, Guinness braised lamb shanks, blarney burgers and the requisite corned beef & cabbage, and much more.

For every pound of corned beef sold, $2.00 is donated to the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Click here for more information.

Childhood Cancer Connection, Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry, Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation, Hawaii Cord Blood Bank and Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children have teamed up to shed light on the facts about childhood cancer, cord blood banking and bone marrow donation.

“Donors typically match based on ethnic background, so you can imagine that here in Hawaii it is especially challenging for children to find a match, given the unique variety of ethnic mixes,” said Randal K. Wada M.D., pediatric oncologist. Dr. Wada is the founder and medical director of the Hawaii Cord Blood Bank and Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry, as well as a transplant surgeon. “We strongly urge the public to attend a drive and register as a bone marrow donor; it’s a simple process that can save the life of a keiki,” added Wada.

Now 25 years old, Chantal Napalapalai is one example of a Hawaii childhood cancer survivor whose life was saved by a blood marrow donor. In 2001, at the age of 15, Napalapalai was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. After a relapse in November of last year, she underwent a bone marrow transplant. “I was truly blessed with a second chance at life from a non-related bone marrow donor,” said Napalapalai.

 To become registered as a bone marrow donor, all that is required is a cheek swab and a willingness to help save a life.  Each new registrant will be placed into the National Bone Marrow Registry, which matches pediatric and adult patients throughout the country with donors.

The drives will be staffed by volunteers from various community groups and organizations, including families of children with cancer from the Childhood Cancer Connection support group.

While not all will need bone-marrow transplants, 50-60 Hawaii children are diagnosed with cancer each year. At any given time, approximately 200 children are undergoing treatment, with the average time span of treatment ranging from one to three years. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children from birth to 14 years of age.

Bone-Marrow Drives in September:

• Sunday, September 4 (Kickoff event): Big City Diner at Ward Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturday, September 10: Kahala Mall from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Friday, September 16: Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children from 5 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, September 17: Pearlridge Downtown from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Sunday, September 18: Windward Mall from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Saturday, September 24: Kakaako Park for the CureSearch Walk from 8 a.m. – 12 noon

For more information on the September events and Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation, please visit the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation website: www.HCCF.org.

As always, for every pound of corned beef sold, $2.00 is donated to the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation.

For more information, click here.

Come visit us at the HCCF table at Borders Books at Mililani Town Centre on March 12 and April 23 from 12-2 p.m.

Rock the red carpet with us!

Get your picture taken at our fun Valentine’s Day photo area at Kahala Mall. This is a fundraiser for the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation. For just a $5 donation, you’ll receive a 4X6? print to give to a special someone on Valentine’s Day. 100% of all donations will go to support HCCF.

Special for the keiki – from 12-1pm, take a Valentine’s photo with Hello Kitty!

Please tell your friends and family to visit us next Saturday at Kahala Mall.  Thank you for supporting HCCF! We hope to see you there!

 The goal is to unite Chinatown merchants and patrons to help Hawaii children, especially during the holiday season.

 “We want to make sure that these kids have a gift to open for Christmas…there is no better charity than helping the children of Hawaii, ” said event organizer Mark Becker.  Becker has organized similar events in Chicago beginning 10 years ago, raising over $10,000 the first year and $100,000 last year, with 5,000 people participating.  This is the first time he has organized the event in Honolulu.

Event tickets are available now for $20 presale online or $25 on the night of the event, and will provide patrons with an event t-shirt and Santa hat, as well as complimentary cover and discounted drinks at all participating bars. All proceeds go to HCCF and Make-A-Wish Hawaii. For presale tickets, visit the link:  http://www12barsofchristmashonolulu.ticketleap.com/12-bars-of-christmas/