Our Inspiration

In 2002, when 16-year-old Sarah Szafranski realized she was losing her three-year battle with cancer, she resolved to make a permanent contribution to the fight against pediatric cancer. She decided to create a self-sustaining endowment fund for research on pediatric cancer. She charged her father, Bob Szafranski, with starting the Sarah Szafranski Endowment Fund and growing it to $1 million. 

Having completed that goal in 2020, Bob guided the next phase of Sarah’s Clays – to invest in the most innovative cancer research in the country – through a partnership with Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation (CKc). With the help of the dedicated volunteer committee members, Sarah’s Clays raised $107,000 in 2021 and fully funded a Young Investigator Grant for Dr. Joelle Straehla at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

From L to R: Dana Nichols, Executive Director for CKc, Dr. Joelle Straehla, Bob Szafranski.

Your gift to CKc through Sarah’s Clays makes an immediate and lasting impact in the fight against pediatric cancers! Join us this year to continue to change the status quo for kids fighting cancer!