PHILIPSBURG — In May of 2010, five-year-old Emily Whitehead, daughter of Tom and Kari Whitehead from Philipsburg, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
It was said that this type of leukemia would typically be cured at the time, but with Emily that did not happen.
She relapsed twice, became resistant to the treatments and her doctors exhausted all of the known treatment options.
They were almost ready to give up.
Then her father heard about a new experimental treatment available as a Phase 1 clinical trial at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
They enrolled Emily in the trial, called CAR T-cell therapy, and she became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive the therapy.
It was not an easy process, but it worked, and Emily is now a thriving 20-year-old, 10 years free of cancer and a student at the University of Pennsylvania.
For Tom and Kari, however that was far from the end of the story.
Out of relief, gratitude and the joy of having a healthy, cancer-free daughter, they set out to try to help other families who are in the same dire situation.
They began the Emily Whitehead Foundation, which strives to share Emily’s story and raise funds and awareness of CAR T-cell therapy and childhood cancer research.
The Foundation works to accelerate cures, support families and advocate for access to advanced treatments around the world.
One of the many activities sponsored by the Foundation happened this past weekend at the Philipsburg Elks Lodge and Country Club in Philipsburg.
It was the 11th Annual Tee Off for T-Cells Golf Tournament in which 112 golfers, along with numerous supporters and volunteers, came out to share their commitment to help kids with cancer.
CNB Bank was the Presenting Sponsor of the Tournament and contributed $10,000 in support of the event.
The tournament, an 18-hole, four-person scramble, was played on a beautiful Friday at the Club and was won by the team of Glen Sekunda, Jim Pringle, Mike Braniff and Terry Hess with a score of 19-under 51.
Club members Eddie Myers, Josh Muir, Lee Martell and Nate Lucas finished second at 16-under 54.
Joey Sobol won the straightest drive, Brandon McCliment was closest to the hole on 4/13, Eddie Myers was closest to the hole on 9/18, and Joe Soltis won the putting contest.
The event, by any measure, was a great success.
Kristine Barras, Director of Development for the Emily Whitehead Foundation, was in attendance, and she spoke about how the Philipsburg community has continued to stand by Tom, Kari, Emily and the Foundation.
“The Philipsburg community has supported Tom, Kari and Emily Whitehead since the very beginning of their journey,” she said. “It’s incredible to see the same volunteers and friends continue to show up for events like this — packing swag bags, setting up tents, loading coolers and then coming out to golf, celebrate, and support even further.
“These individuals are the heart of this Foundation. We hope to help more families facing childhood cancer receive the care they need to create more outcomes like Emily’s.”
“We’re so grateful to every donor, partner, volunteer, board member and friend who made this beautiful day possible.”
