BUFFALO, N.Y. — A pediatric cancer organization, Sophia the Fierce, presented a big check Friday to the Joyce Ohm Research Lab at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The $10,000 donation will support Ewing sarcoma research initiatives in memory of Sophia the Fierce, who died in May of 2023.
The check was presented at a golf tournament fundraiser for the organization.
"It's something that's been on our list for a while now, and it is such an honor to be able to meet Dr. Ohm and really grt this off the ground," Kristina Benintende, Sophia's mother, said Friday during the event.
Dr. Ohm's goal is to develop a targeted therapy approach for relapsed patients, which would lessen the chemotherapy load on children and adolescents.
"While we have made tremendous progress with regard to new treatments for more common cancers, research for rare cancers like Ewing sarcoma lags behind," Dr. Ohm said in a statement.
"We need to develop less toxic, more effective, targeted therapies for our youngest, most precious, cancer warriors like Sophia. This donation and Sophia's legacy will have a significant impact on these efforts at Roswell Park."
The donation presentation was made Friday morning at the Sophia the Fierce Gold Tournament, held at Diamond Hawk Golf Course in Cheektowaga.
"We are humbled and excited to support Dr. Ohm's cutting edge research for Ewing Sarcoma. Sophia deserved so much more. She deserved more options," Jillmarie Giardina, a founding board member of Sophia the Fierce Inc. and aunt to Sophia, said in a statement.
"She wanted nothing more than to live and we hope to help give kids just like her a chance."