CureMEdullo

Mission

Established in 2012 in honor of Carson Leslie, who passed away at the age of 17 after a three-year battle with medulloblastoma, the Carson Leslie Foundation (CLF)’s mission is to raise funds for research leading to a cure for pediatric cancer and to enrich the lives of children fighting the disease in Dallas, Texas.

CLF’s mission is fulfilled through three primary areas of emphasis, which are substantially funded by contributions and fundraising events:

1. Research – CLF and its donors work to fund research at leading institutions, with an emphasis on pediatric medulloblastoma. Through CLF’s CureMEdullo initiative, the foundation works with research partners including the Children’s Brain Tumor Network to build and evolve a shared understanding of the best approaches to diagnose, treat, and recover from medulloblastoma and the complications that can arise from the disease and its treatments.
   
2. Encouragement – Efforts are made to lift the spirits of children currently battling cancer by means of red-carpet outings, care package distribution, and activities at Texas Children’s Hospital. Such activities include parties, visits by a therapy dog, and entertainment in a reserved area named “Carson’s Corner.”
   
3. Advocacy – CLF works with federal, state, and local institutions to advance pediatric medulloblastoma research and to encourage collaboration. Major efforts in this area include working with the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and hosting an annual Golden Toast to celebrate the accomplishments of the bipartisan Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, the childhood cancer community, and young cancer survivors.