Compel
}
The power to choose how big of a part I wanted my childhood cancer experience to play in my life was mine. This, in itself, made me feel more in-control of myself and my life. I found myself finding ways to build on my experience instead of letting it get me down. I began volunteering on the pediatric cancer floor at University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital and was startled – and amazed – by my ability to relate to the patients on the floor. It was an incredible feeling to soothe some of the younger patients as they underwent chemo infusions and to tell them "I know how you feel," and really mean it.
I've learned that people are much braver than they think they are, and having faith that things will be okay in the end is more powerful than most people believe. At the end of the day, I am not thankful my cancer experience happened in the first place, but I am so thankful for everything that has come of it.
Sanyukta Janardan
Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor
Plymouth, Minnesota
Nearly 800 guests filled The Depot on Saturday, November 5 to celebrate the 31st Annual Dawn of a Dream. The memorable evening began with an array of fundraising experiences. Guests could pick a treasure from the "Tiffany & Co. Forest", punch for a manly prize in the Man Cave, or draw a butterfly in the Women's Butterfly Garden. And for the first time, guests used handheld technology through BidPal to place bids on their favorite items.
Throughout the evening, guests saw, heard and read stories of people touched by cancer. Stories that continue to compel…motivate…and inspire us to continue on our quest to find a cure for childhood cancer.
Program highlights included a poignant photo essay and powerful spoken word performance that both captured the joys and heartache of the children, families, doctors, researchers and others in the trenches of the cancer experience. We also met Barbel Abela, the grateful recipient of a life-saving stem cell transplant and her announcement to commit $100,000 to fund promising research.
In a touching tribute, Children's Cancer Research Fund founders, Diana and Norm Hageboeck, honored friend and longtime supporter, Suzanne Holmes Hodder (1932-2011), for her commitment to our cause and her family's gift of $5 million to fund a new research chair at the University of Minnesota. Sue's husband, Bill, and their family were presented with the Dream Maker Award, Children's Cancer Research Fund's highest honor.
The evening culminated in a fabulous live auction during the program, which included a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Proceeds from the live auction topped $100,000.
As our evening of stories came to a close, more than $1 million was raised to support groundbreaking research to help write new chapter and change too many unhappy endings.
We want to extend a very heartfelt thanks to our co-chairs, Susan Prell and Lisa Wagner, their steering committee, dedicated volunteers and Martin Bastian Productions, along with the generosity of corporate and community partners, and attendees.