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"Atlanta Fashion Gives" Was Presented by Simply Buckhead Magazine on April 19, 2022

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CURE for Childhood Cancer spoke volumes on Tuesday night in Atlanta (at Flourish) biding the cause to wipe out childhood cancer. Presented by Simply Buckhead Magazine, and produced by fashion icon Randi Layne, “Atlanta Fashion Gives,” did just that! Atlanta Fashion Gives held a virtual silent auction to accomplish their mission of finding a cure for childhood cancer by bidding off comfortable household items. The inaugural fashion event accompanied with theatrical fashion, music, and celebrity guests, featured London’s Joshua Kane Bespoke to benefit CURE Childhood Cancer. Kane, Director in Chief, exemplifies British artistry of the 21 st century at its highest level. The independent fashion guru creates every thread of craftsmanship that goes into making a Joshua Kane suit. Kane’s shows are created with the intentions to indulge his audience with storytelling and thought-provoking fashion that will fabricate a world of arousal and fantasy. His independent brand Bespoke, derives from the verb meaning, “to speak for something.” Kane’s rebellious attitude and imagination is tailored with the intention to reflect the “person” for whom the suit is being crafted. “It's about making clothes that reflect people & personalities” stated the Oxford born, Kingston University in London, England graduate. Kane is known for dressing the likes of Nick Cannon, Rod Stewart, Ozzie Osborne, and many others.

Sponsorships and tickets for the event, ranged from $5K for a silver sponsor to $50K for a presenting sponsor. The first ever US show, taking place in Buckhead, was a revolutionary sold out event. Atlanta’s elite elevated the scene not only in fashions seen in Paris, London, Milan, and New York, but in awareness of the need to cure childhood cancer. “Atlanta Fashion Gives,” exhibited nothing short of eccentricity inspired and infused with the signature of Joshua Kane, creating a night of stunning exhibition of Van Gogh. The flawlessness and exquisiteness of fashion wrapped in color, and historical inspiration was paramount in Atlanta’s wealthiest zone, Buckhead.

CURE, Childhood Cancer, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization, founded in 1975 by the city’s first pediatric oncologist is a non-profit organization committed to abolishing the epidemic of childhood cancer using funded research while providing support to patients and their families. Since their beginning, CURE has been successful in raising millions of dollars for research and lobbied legislation. With cancer being the number one cause of death by disease in children, CURE is an august in promoting the advancement of research by investing $4 million annually. Unfortunately, only 4% of monies raised in our country for cancer research is used for pediatric cancer. The statistic is unthinkable as well as disheartening. Among children ages 0-14 years, the most common types of cancer are leukemias, followed by brain and CNS (Central Nervous System) tumors, lymphomas, neuroblastoma, kidney tumors, and malignant bone tumors.

Yearly, 17,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer. Although the survival rate has improved in the past few years, children who do survive, lives are often complicated and compromised with health challenges that include heart disease, stunted growth, infertility,secondary cancers, and premature death. CURE’s mission is not only to save the lives of children, but their families as well. Over the past twelve years, CURE has invested more than $38million in innovative research resulting in many discoveries and treatment options.  As a result of the research,children now have the option for precision medicine.  Precision medicine, (personalized care)provides individualized, gene-based approaches to treatment, and has resulted in raising $ 4.5 million towards the launch of the Precision Medicine Program at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.   The Aflac Cancer Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has the highest volume of pediatric cancer patients than any other center in the country.  CURE is the largest single funder of a project which is now working towards international clinical trials.  CURE’s impact over the last decade has provided over $2 million in emergency financial assistance, professional counseling services, serving meals to hospitalized children and their families, three times daily, lodging and bereavement support.  ‍

Kristin Connor of CURE Childhood Cancer‍

Kristin Connor, a graduate of Vanderbilt University,and a graduate of the University of Georgia Law School; and now, CEO of CURE for Childhood Cancer, became redirected and emphatic when her one-month-old son was diagnosed with the aggressive form of childhood cancer neuroblastoma.   Neuroblastoma is a cancer that starts early in nerve cells; being detected in an embryo and fetus.  At the time of her son’s diagnosis, for children with high-risk neuroblastoma, the 5-year survival rate was only around 40-50%. Kristin left her law practice after practicing business litigation for more than ten years and set out on a mission to cure childhood cancer in efforts to save her son and after witnessing the dismissal affects and financial hardships that many families suffered; that often resulted in the death of their child. Kristin’s son cancer journey lasted two years before he was declared cancer-free.  During this time, Kristin redirected her time and energy to becoming an advocate for childhood cancer.  First, she worked for a national childhood cancer organization, then in 2006, became the Executive Director of CURE Childhood Cancer.  Since 2006, CURE has raised nearly $70 million. Kristin Connor recalls that when she joined CURE she was only the third person on the team.  Through various changes, financial challenges, and incredible support, the organization grew.  Despite the pandemic and a lack of resources, CURE continues to strive in efforts to highlight the need pediatric cancer research.
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