Megan’s Mission
The Megan’s Mission Foundation is committed to realizing Megan’s dream of ending childhood cancer through advocacy and research.
We are officially SOLD OUT for the Megan’s Mission 2025 Memorial Golf Outing! Thank you to the amazing members of Team Megan for once again selling out our event-it is going to be such a memorable year!
If you are still interested in golfing, please reach out to us so we can add you to the waiting list. Of course, we cannot make this event work without our wonderful sponsors, so if you’d like to partner with us this year, please check out the Golf Outing Page.
Email [email protected] if you’d like to be added to the waiting list to golf, or are interested in sponsoring this year’s event.
2024 Research year in Review
The Megan’s Mission Foundation awarded $222,120 to the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute (cc-TDI) for fiscal year 2024. This money is being used to advance three clinical research initiatives focused on Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)
Immunotherapy Research
Immunotherapy is a newer type of cancer treatment which uses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. Following lack of consistent responses in rhabdomyosarcoma to generalized immunotherapy approaches to adult cancer, and due to a lack of specific research on using immunotherapy to treat RMS, Megan was unable to access this treatment of her cancer. Megan wanted to make sure that other kids had opportunities she never had, so she challenged Dr. Keller and his team to study immunotherapy for RMS. cc-TDI is now pioneering this research.
Citizen Scientist Project
The Citizen Scientist Project was established in 2021 through a conversation between Megan and Dr. Keller where Megan expressed frustration that she and her young friends with cancer did not have 7+ years to wait for a new drug to be developed. This program funds the study of existing drugs which already have FDA approval for potential treatment of RMS. This research has led to CC-TDI receiving grant funding from the Cancer Research UK Cancer Grand Challenge program to study a promising protein degrader to potentially treat RMS. Read more
Hiring Alina Teuber, PhD, cc-TDI’s first first Megan Bugg Research Fellow
Most recently, the Megan’s Mission Foundation fully funded the hiring of Cc-TDI’s first Megan Bugg Research Fellow, Alina Teuber PhD. Alina, is a recent PhD graduate of Dortmund University, Germany. Her work at cc-TDI augments and accelerates cc-TDI’s mission of developing a new class of medicines, protein degrader therapeutics, as part of the Cancer Research UK Cancer Grand Challenge program. As a member of Team KOODAC, Alina will work with other cc-TDI lab member, Samuel Rasmussen and NURIX THERAPEUTICS in the development of a clinical-grade protein degrader targeting the PAX3::FOXO1 protein in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
PARTNERSHIP FUNDRAISER! The Cove, Coal City Nutrition
We're excited to announce that our official Megan's Mission Foundation coffee mugs (designed by fellow childhood cancer advocate, Stacy Lazzara) are now available for the community to enjoy!
Even more exciting, we are proudly partnering with The Cove, Coal City Nutrition as our official retail partner making these available to the local community in-person. We appreciate The Cove for their partnership and look forward to working with their team on this exciting opportunity.
Stop into The Cove to grab yours (and something from their incredible menu) and take advantage of their special promotion!
Mugs are $15 and proceeds will go directly to funding childhood cancer research.
Cheers!
Megan’s Mission in her own words
Megan was “the girl who did something.”
Over 2 million dollars raised for childhood cancer research
Fully funded 5 research projects at Luries Children’s Hospital & the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute (CC-TDI)
In recognition of her efforts on behalf of all kids fighting childhood cancer, CC-TDI dedicated the “Megan Bugg Global Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Laboratory” in her honor
Was a national spokesperson for childhood cancer serving as a keynote speaker at various events and speaking in Washington, D.C.