Advocacy In Action

October 14, 2024 by Aldevron

Stories of Inspiration Following the Believe Ball

Last month, a group of Aldevron team members traveled to Philadelphia to attend the Emily Whitehead Foundation's Believe Ball and its associated events. This annual event honors pediatric cancer patients alongside raising awareness and fundraising for the future of innovative treatments. Attendees of the Believe Ball got the chance to celebrate the strength of cancer survivors and discuss the rare disease community and the therapeutic industry’s collective efforts in working to find a cure for all patients.

Among the attendees were Lam Pham, QC Microbiology Supervisor, Angelica Meyer, Senior Manager of MSAT; and Joel Francis, Protein R&D Scientist, who were chosen to represent Aldevron at the event. These individuals were selected based on an unwavering dedication to their teams and a keen focus on delivering transformative therapies to those in need through science. Lam, Angelica, and Joel described the experience as incredibly meaningful, purpose-driven, and sentimental, and they left feeling more inspired than ever about all that we do at Aldevron!

“It was an absolute honor and privilege to attend,” said Lam. "It brought everything full-circle and added more appreciation to the work we do.”

Our team shared compelling insights and moments from their trip to Philadelphia that will help us better support patients amidst our renewed focus on advocacy.

Empowering Anecdotes from Cancer Warriors
From a childhood cancer survivor’s inspiring performance of “Fight Song” to another individual's personal account of beating cancer five times, the Believe Ball was an emotional and heartfelt experience for all. The ball itself was just one highlight from a collection of remarkable events of inspiration and connection. The group also spent an evening putting together gift boxes for children undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and engaged in inspiring conversations with childhood cancer patients and their families.

Lam, Angelica, and Joel met with patients, family advocates, researchers, and more who have been impacted by cancer and are hopeful for future innovations. Demonstrating strength and vulnerability, the patients, aptly referred to as warriors, and their families, shared stories from their experiences and the immense hardships they have undergone. Each of the Aldevron attendees agreed that these personal conversations were the highlights of the trip – being able to better understand what treatments really mean to those who need them.

“In R&D, the patient that receives any sort of therapy that is derived from gene editing can feel so downstream and theoretical. It was awesome to change that mindset by meeting people at the receiving end of these technologies and have meaningful, face-to-face conversations with the warriors and their families,” said Joel.

Meeting with patients, families, and advocates provided Aldevron’s team with a profound understanding of the real-world impact of their work. These interactions reinforced the importance of our mission, vision, and values – inspiring a renewed dedication to advancing innovative therapies.

“It was so inspiring to see these children’s strength,” said Lam. “It was amazing to see them holding on to hope and continuing to fight.”

Witnessing the Impact of Gene Therapies
The visit was also a meaningful reminder of the urgent need for treatments, like gene and cell therapy, and the life-changing impact they have already had on many individuals. Many of the Believe Ball warriors had been treated with CAR-T therapy, which Aldevron plays a crucial role in manufacturing. It was especially motivating for Aldevron attendees to personally meet the end recipients of our team's hard work every day.

The Aldevron team, along with cancer survivors and their families, had the opportunity to tour Dr. Bruce Levine’s CAR-T cell therapy lab at the University of Pennsylvania. During the visit, cancer survivors and their families got to see and learn about the lab that contributed to treatments that saved their lives, a full circle moment. The gratitude expressed by the survivors and their families was incredibly moving, highlighting the critical importance of our ongoing efforts to develop life-changing therapies for those in need!

“You could tell in the parents’ faces how grateful they were that their child was alive. No parent should ever have to bury their child, but all of these people were faced with that likelihood. But because of these treatments, they did not have to do it,” said Angelica. “The event was much happier than I thought it would be. These children are thriving, and their gratitude and their families’ gratitude was so moving.”

The visit underscored the urgent need for innovative therapies like CAR-T for cancer patients worldwide who currently lack access. While the Aldevron team met many patients who have been successfully treated with this form of therapy, it was a powerful reminder of all those who are eagerly awaiting their turn. Their time in Philadelphia also emphasized the crucial role of scientists and academic institutions, and how vital it is for such important individuals and groups to dedicate their time and resources to researching and developing these therapies.

“The possibilities are wide for treatment opportunities. I dream of a day where it’s the first line of defense and not the last,” said Angelica.

Aldevron’s involvement and experience at the Believe Ball underscored why we have renewed our commitment to advocacy and remain steadfast in playing an important role in making therapies of the highest quality that are critical when maximizing patient impact. This was a highly influential moment in time to really think about how our work is impacting real people who are fighting for their lives and further motivates our dedication to putting patients first, always, and creating a world where every cure is possible.

• Have questions on this topic? Contact Us
• Visit the Emily Whitehead Foundation website
• Read Playing Our Part In Powering Breakthroughs – The Heart of Aldevron Advocacy
• Read Advocacy In Action – Running and riding for a cure
• Read Advocacy In Action – Looking for the next step ahead
• Have an idea for a topic? Let us know!

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