Accomplishments & Distribution of Funds

Carson insisted that his brain be donated to research with the hope that some brilliant scientist will figure out why chemotherapy wouldn’t stop the tumors that invaded his brain & spine. He wanted to help the next kid. So, within a few months of his death, The Carson Leslie Foundation was born & in a little over 2 years the foundation has made REMARKABLE strides in the world of childhood cancer research.

• We have launched a collaboration with The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), TREMENDOUSLY leveraging the foundation’s donated funds.Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in 2007 establishing the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) authorizing the state to issue $3 billion in bonds to fund groundbreaking cancer research & prevention programs in Texas. (Carson’s mom, Annette serves CPRIT on an advisory committee).
• Carson’s mom speaks BOLDLY throughout the country about her boy & that cancer is the #1 disease killer of American children. She spoke in Congressman McCaul’s Washington D.C. home kicking off his childhood cancer caucus just a few months after Carson’s death. That caucus resulted in the bipartisan Creating Hope Act that was signed by the president.
• Carson wrote a book, Carry Me which was published 6 days before he died. It’s his powerful journal of what it is like to be a teenager fighting for life. His thoughts are raw and true and honest. Over 5000 books have sold; and it is in The Library of Congress!Keyea Webster, Event Chair keyea.webster@gmail.com, 903-235-8567