A definite perspective emerges on what has become the Childhood Cancer Awareness Movement from one of its most influential advocates and supporters. Annette Leslie’s son, Carson Leslie, was afflicted with medullobastoma; before perishing to the disease, he wrote a book called “Carry Me” to give the benefit of his experience and what he learned to others who would come after him. After reading the book in 2010 shortly after Carson passed away, Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Founder of the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus (CCCC), invited Annette to speak at the inaugural Childhood Cancer Caucus meeting in his Washington, DC private home. The rest is not only history, so to speak, but an amazing journey of discovery, teamwork and partnership between Congress, childhood cancer advocates, and the cancer research community.
The Carson Leslie Foundation and CPRIT partnership has increased the level of designated CPRIT funding for pediatric cancer research three-fold. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is second only to the Federal Government in its funding for cancer research in the United States.
