Children's Hospital of Philadelphia receives Hyundai Hope on Wheels cancer research grant

UNIVERSITY CITY (WPVI) -- Only 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget goes to childhood cancer research. The private sector contributes more, and with the cuts in Washington, that money is becoming more important than ever.

Once again this year, some local car dealers are behind a major drive.

"We see families who experience suffering that no family should ever have to go through," says Dr. Haley Newman, an attending physician and cancer researcher at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Every day, Dr. Newman cares for leukemia and lymphoma patients.

While nearly 9 out of 10 survive their first bout, it's a different story for a relapse. Cancer in B-cells can be beat, but T-cell is harder to stop.

"We're actually really only able to salvage 20%," Dr Newman says.

She just received a $300,000 grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels to help more T-cell patients survive relapses.

The first step is identifying who's most likely to relapse.

"For B-ALL (leukemia), we've gotten much better at saying this patient is high risk because of these genetic changes and needs more intense therapy," says Dr. Newman.

T-cells' genetics are more complex and are just being revealed.

Dr. Newman isn't the only researcher to benefit from Hyundai Hope on Wheels. Since 1998, the company has awarded over $277 million - $27 million this year alone - to 1,400 researchers.

"It's the best day of my year when we get to go down to CHOP and make that check presentation," says Burns Hyundai President Peter Lanzavecchia.

Lanzavecchia says the grants are very competitive, with top scientists from around the country making bids.

All 850 Hyundai dealers across the country are also involved, with those in Canada and Mexico coming on board.

"We make a contribution to Hyundai Hope on Wheels for every Hyundai sold here in the United States. And then we have matching funds from Hyundai Motor America," Lanzavecchia explains. "The cure rate on pediatric cancer is 85%. And we won't rest until we get that number to 100%."

Dr. Newman believes answers to T-cell leukemia and lymphoma are within reach.

"I'm so incredibly grateful to have this research support," she says,

For more information about the foundation's work, as well as a place to donate, visit HyundaiHopeonWheels.org.