My boy lived his whole-short life in Dallas. With his confident swagger and a smile that would warm a room Carson captivated the hearts of many Dallasites including Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, Jessica Simpson, Michael Young, Jerry Jones and even King George (not exactly a Dallasite, but…)
Carson always embodied a sacrificial giving heart. And it may have been Carson’s giving heart that drew these Dallasites to help my boy during his valiant fight for life.
But it was Christmas Eve 2009 that confirmed Carson truly had a giving heart when he whispered words I’ll never forget, “Momma, make sure they study those tumors, if those tumors can help some kid not die from cancer like I am, I’d like that; it’s hard to have cancer.”
A few months after his death The Carson Leslie Foundation busted onto the scene honoring that wish with a firm mission; to fund innovative childhood cancer research and encourage teens in the battle.
Less toxic treatment for children who are undergoing harsh chemotherapy and radiation on their young and growing bodies is critical. These childhood cancer survivors face serious medical complications, secondary cancers, cognitive impairments and shortened lifespans. For those children who make it, less toxic treatment, the better chance they have to live a healthy life because children who make it might have 70+ years to live! And most of the treatments for childhood cancers are over 20 years old.
We have established a partnership with the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) so our research funds are tremendously leveraged. Very exciting studies will be announced the next few weeks with these leveraged funds!
Secondary to research, our mission is to encourage teens in the battle.
Twice a year we take cancer-fighting teens & their BFF out of the hospital for a night on the town in Big D! Ladies don wigs, many climb into wheel chairs or grab crutches then everyone finds a spot in a limo, we turn up the tunes, laugh hard, flirt a little, and just for a little while try to forget how sick the cancer patients really are—
Our wish is new opportunities and sponsors to take these young warriors out & about our great city of Dallas, in style!!!