It’s Not What’s On The Giant Check. It’s Who’s Behind It.

When you see a photo of a giant check being presented to a researcher, it probably looks like the main event.

It’s not.

A research visit is part celebration, part strategy session, part relationship-building, and yes… part food tour.

Here’s what really happens when the CKc team travels to visit one of our funded researchers.

Step One: Celebrate the Grant

Before we ever arrive, we’ve spent weeks coordinating with the researcher and their institution to schedule the visit. That means working with hospital and university staff, communications teams, researchers, and sometimes even patient families.

The check presentation is our chance to celebrate the people behind the science and recognize the partnership that makes this research possible.

Step Two: Talk Science

This is our favorite part.

We sit down with the research team to hear updates on the project, learn about their progress, discuss challenges, and ask lots of questions. We talk about what’s happening across the pediatric cancer landscape, from new discoveries and clinical trial opportunities to funding challenges and where the field is headed next. We ask for feedback on our grant process, from ways to improve applications to emerging areas of need. 

These conversations help us make smarter funding decisions and ensure we’re investing where we can have the greatest impact. 

Step Three: Build Relationships

Whenever possible, we tour the labs and research facilities.

We meet graduate students, fellows, and early-career investigators who are dedicating their careers to pediatric cancer research. We catch up with members of our Scientific Advisory Board and reconnect with past grant recipients. These conversations often spark ideas for future collaborations and introduce us to researchers whose work may one day become a CKc-funded project.

Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens because people connect.

Step Four: Explore the City

Research is serious work.

That doesn’t mean every minute has to be.

One of our favorite traditions is using our downtime to experience the city we’re visiting. It’s a way to balance the fatigue of travel and a reminder that taking care of yourself helps you show up better for the work ahead.

Everyone on the team has their specialty:

• Matt is our resident foodie. Before we even board the plane, he’s built a spreadsheet of the city’s can’t-miss restaurants, hidden gems, and local favorites.
• Dana is always on the hunt for the perfect local coffee shop, an amazing sweet treat, and a great place to walk or get some exercise.
• Val makes sure we don’t miss the unique experiences that give every city its personality, whether it’s a local attraction, neighborhood, or something you can only do there.

Some of our most important strategic conversations happen over coffee, during a walk, or around a dinner table after a full day in the lab.

Because Relationships Matter

At CKc, we don’t simply fund research and move on.

We build relationships with the people doing the work. We celebrate their successes, learn alongside them, and stay connected long after the check presentation is over.

Every trip reminds us that behind every clinical trial, every breakthrough, and every new treatment are passionate people working tirelessly to change what’s possible for children with cancer.

And we’re grateful to be part of their journey.