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Swinging for Caroline Charity Golf and Tennis Tournament Raises over $450,000 to Battle Childhood Cancer

Funds Support Hope Street Kids Pediatric Research Efforts

Arlington, VA, June 07, 2004 — Arlington, VA - Hope Street Kids, a children's initiative of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation (CRPF), today held its fifth annual golf and tennis invitational, Swinging for Caroline. The tournament raised over $450,000 to support Hope Street Kids’ battle to eliminate childhood cancer. Congressman Eric Cantor and Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito served as this year's Honorary Congressional Chairmen and participated in the event.

Proceeds from the event will support innovative programs, cutting-edge research, advocacy and education.

U.S. Representative Deborah Pryce (Ohio) and Randy Walker founded Hope Street Kids in memory of their nine-year old daughter, Caroline Pryce Walker, who lost a valiant battle against neuroblastoma on September 4, 1999.

"The money raised from Swinging for Caroline will help fulfill our purpose of providing hope to kids and families through pediatric cancer research," Congresswoman Pryce said. "We are thankful to our friends and colleagues for their participation and their continued support. With each step, we are moving toward our ultimate goal of a generation free of cancer."

Children’s Cancer - a National Tragedy
While an estimated 12,400 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and 2,300 children will die from the disease, research into new treatment and cures for childhood cancers has been largely overlooked in this country.

Just a small percentage of traditional government and private industry funding has been dedicated to new therapies for pediatric cancer. Since its inception, Hope Street Kids has raised more than $3.2 million to support its battle to eliminate childhood cancer, and provided more than $2.1 million in grants and fellowships to researchers that support investigations of promising treatment and prevention approaches to pediatric cancer.

CRPF President Carolyn Aldigé said, "The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation has always believed that children are one of our most important target audiences - through our young people we can begin to build a healthier nation that may ultimately become cancer-free. The Foundation is very proud to help turn Caroline's, Deborah's and Randy's vision for Hope Street Kids into a viable program that can make a significant difference in the lives of children with cancer, and the lives of all our nation’s children."

Swinging for Caroline
Since its inception in 2000, Swinging for Caroline has raised more than $3.2 million to help Hope Street Kids realize its mission. This year's golf tournament was conducted in a shamble best ball format. Awards were presented to:

• low gross team


• first, second and third place low net teams


• closest to the line


• men and ladies longest drive

Tennis players also competed in a round-robin format. Based on self-estimated National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) ranking, tennis players were paired with a new partner for each round of play. Each participant played three rounds of 30-minute sets. Individual scores were based on total games won by the doubles teams. Overall winners received awards.

Members of Congress faced off in a VIP exhibition tennis match, featuring Members of Congress: Senator John Breaux, Congressman David Dreier, Mike Tomberlin, Ed Whitfield and Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito.



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Contacts
Cynthia Duncan
703-519-2107

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