1980s – Incorporated a non-profit organization with the goal of supporting novel groundbreaking pediatric cancer research.

1983 – The first major project funded focused on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), most common disease killer of children under 18. Paved the way for Children’s Medical Center Dallas to have the worldwide prominence.

1985 – Launched the annual Tom Thumb Run for the Children at Oktoberfest in Addison. 34 years later it is still running!! In 2019, renamed to the Warrior Run and Dash to Smash Kid’s Cancer.

1987 – Launched the Ambassador Program, which provides fun events for children with cancer, their siblings and parents.

1990s – Initial funding of the “After the Care Experience” program at Children’s, one of the first programs in the world to offer a continuum of follow-up care to cancer patients and monitor the late effects of cancer and its treatment. Funded studies in supportive cancer care, leukemia and brain tumors.

1998 – The organization was renamed to Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer (WOKC).

2000s – Funded research in bone tumors, leukemia and neuroblastoma.

2003 – Funded the Visiting Professor Endowment Fund at Children’s for hematology/oncology; and hosted the first WOKC Golf Classic.

2004 – Texas Ranger Michael Young and wife Cristina supported WOKC programs for children with cancer. WOKC committed to 5-year funding of Spanish Translator for Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

2008 – Launched the Buddy Bag Program, a rolling suitcase filled with comfort and hygiene items delivered to children on their first day of admission to the hospital for cancer diagnosis. The Buddy Bag Program is WOKC signature program.

2010 – Funded 5-hospital collaboration study “Metabolic Syndrome in Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors Relapse Study on Medulloblastoma” between Cook Children’s (Fort Worth), Children’s Medical Central (Dallas), MD Anderson (Houston), Tx Children’s (Houston), Children’s Hospital (Ok City), resulted in Cook Children’s CPRIT Grant of $1.9 million and participation in joint trail with St. Jude’s (Memphis).

2014 – Expanded the Ambassador program to Cook Children’s; expanded the Buddy Bag Program to Medical City.

2015 – Provided seed funding of $135,000 to Dr. Michael Hogarty at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), for study “Mechanisms of Polyaminins Depletion Anti-Tumor Activity in Neuroblastoma” producing additional NIH funding of $1.5 million (2018).

2016 – Expanded the Ambassador Program to Medical City Children’s Dallas.

2018 – Luke Laufenberg became the Run Marshall for the 33rd Run for the Children at Oktoberfest; Luke valiantly fought Burkitt’s Leukemia until earning his Angel Wings August, 2019.

2019 – Contributed to the largest pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia (TpAML) genetic study (Whole Genome Sequencing) in U.S. by supporting a computational biologist to analyze biobanked genetic information. Ambassador Program renamed the Warrior Family Program; expanded corporate supporters to include the Texas Roughriders, Cleburne Railroaders, and Dallas Rattlers along with Texas Legends.

2020 – 40th Anniversary (1980 – 2020) of Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer, created by visionary founder Cindy Brinker Simmons