Kathleen Ruddy, CEO at St. Baldrick’s Foundation, shared on LinkedIn:
“At this time, 25 years ago, I was filling out new hire paperwork for my first day on the job – my first in childhood cancer.
My new boss, Denis Keegan, walked into my office and said,
“There are these three Irish guys in New York who do this thing in a bar…”
I remember thinking, “I knew I liked this guy – he loves to tell jokes…”
I waited for the punchline, but it wasn’t a joke – the three Irish guys are a load of fun, but also dead serious about curing childhood cancers. The thing in a bar was shaving their heads bald in solidarity with kids with cancer, on St. Patrick’s Day, and directing the funds raised to lifesaving research. Their second annual event was approaching, and I remember saying “this could be big.” Denis said, “OK, you’re Irish – see what you can do with it!”
I will confess that at the time I felt a bit hood-winked – I had been hired to do something else entirely, and I wasn’t sure Denis realized this “thing in a bar” was going to derail other plans. Three and a half years later, St. Baldrick’s became its own Foundation, and I was honored to be asked to lead it. To this day, I thank Denis for giving me the greatest opportunity of my life, because I have worked alongside good-hearted people in 32 countries who have helped fund the development of new drugs, bring immunotherapy into the mainstream, trained the next generation of cancer researchers, increase federal funding and improve national policy around pediatric cancer treatment, access and survivorship, and so much more.
What a blessing it has been to serve the St. Baldrick’s community, where the kids bring out the very best in the very best people and we all focus on the kids, all day, every day. Every day I am humbled by the sacrifice, dedication, generosity and ingenuity of our volunteers, donors and partners. 4.5 million people have volunteered, donated, or advocated, and together they fuel the work of the most brilliant scientific minds in the cancer world – all to give the kids you love a long, healthy life, full of potential and joy.
St. Baldrick’s began as an “Irish event”, but today it’s a celebration in every community for every family’s masterpiece: their children. Today and every day we renew our vow to protect your kids and future generations. Will you join us? 25 years in, I can tell you, there has never been a better time than now.”
Other OncoDaily articles featuring Kathleen Ruddy.