The Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF), the leading nongovernmental funder of all forms of neurofibromatosis (NF) research in the world, announced today that it was absorbing the Cupid’s Charity program into CTF’s business operations in the fourth quarter of the year. Cupid’s Charity is best known for its annual Cupid’s Undie Run event, net proceeds of which exclusively go to NF research funded by the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Today’s announcement reflects mutual agreement by the Boards of Directors of both organizations to fully bring the Cupid’s program into CTF.
The first Cupid’s Undie Run took place in 2010 in Washington, D.C. as a ‘crazy idea’ by co-founders Brendan Hanrahan, Chad Leathers, and Bobby Gill to raise awareness for NF, which affected Chad’s brother, Drew Leathers. What started out as a unique ‘let’s put hilarity into charity’ twist on traditional charity walks/runs, turned into a national phenomenon attracting wide attention and increased funding for NF. Cupid’s Charity was established as its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to fund NF research, and in the decade since, has raised and donated millions of dollars to the Children’s Tumor Foundation for NF research.
Today’s announcement reflects the belief that with a shared vision to end NF, and with many NF patients and families passionately involved in one or both organizations, the restructuring will strengthen the NF community’s efforts to raise awareness and funds for NF. Cupid’s program offerings will be integral amongst the variety of CTF’s signature programs and event offerings, which include Shine a Light NF Walk, NF Endurance, Classrooms for a Cure, and other special events. Registration for the February 2022 season of Cupid’s Undie Run, which is anticipated to be in-person once again, has already begun and will remain unaffected by the restructuring. Future Cupid’s offerings are expected to continue in the fun approach for which Cupid’s has come to be known.
Founded in 1978, the Children’s Tumor Foundation began as the first grassroots organization dedicated to finding effective treatments for all forms of NF, including NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. In 2019, Children’s Tumor Foundation Europe was established, and there are CTF initiatives taking place in South America and Asia. Today, CTF is a highly recognized global nonprofit foundation, the leading force in the fight to end NF, and a model for innovative research endeavors.
“We are very proud and excited to officially welcome Cupid’s Charity into the Children’s Tumor Foundation family,” said Tracy Galloway, Board Chair of the Children’s Tumor Foundation. “Today’s news reinforces what we know to be true – that CTF and Cupid’s working together hand-in-hand will bring more awareness and funding to NF, so that we can more quicky develop treatments for our loved ones.”
“When we started Cupid’s over a decade ago, our goal was to make sure more people knew about NF, and that more money was raised to fund research,” said Brendan Hanrahan, Board Chair of Cupids Charity. “We have seen much success, and we believe that by formally joining with the Children’s Tumor Foundation, together we can give both those goals an even further boost.”
“At the Children’s Tumor Foundation, we believe that in order to end NF, we need to collaborate, think creatively, bring along as many people as we can, and lead on the best, most promising research that will help all NF patients,” said Annette Bakker, President of the Children’s Tumor Foundation. “We are thrilled that our long-standing partnership with Cupid’s will now be even more seamless and further benefit our shared mission to end NF.”
Neurofibromatosis, or NF, is a term for three distinct genetic disorders: NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. NF causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and may lead to blindness, deadness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. NF affects 1 in every 3,000 births across all populations equally.
The first-ever approved drug for NF patients with inoperable plexiform neurofibromas is now available, and there are promising clinical trials taking place for other forms of NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. But there is much work to be done, and there is no cure yet. The Children’s Tumor Foundation mission of driving research, expanding knowledge, and advancing care for the NF community fosters its vision of one day ending NF.
For more information about the Children’s Tumor Foundation, please visit ctf.org.
For more information about Cupid’s Charity, please visit cupids.org.
For ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ regarding today’s announcement, click here.
