The Upstate Foundation received a $126,000 donation from Paige’s Butterfly Run (PBR) to support a range of services for children with cancer receiving care at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The funds benefit pediatric cancer research as well as financial support to families to cover everything from food and gas expenses to medical costs and other services.

The organization raised money through a variety of events, some of which were held virtually this year since gathering for the COVID pandemic was often not possible.

Paige's Butterfly Run made the announcement at a presentation outside of Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital Dec. 30

The donation includes $15,000 worth of books that were purchased by patrons at Barnes and Noble and then donated to Upstate through PBR for distribution to patients.

Since 1997, Paige’s Butterfly Run has raised more than $3.8 million dollars in support of pediatric cancer care at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Waters Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders at Upstate.

A Baldwinsville elementary school student, Paige Arnold was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993 when she was 6; Paige died a year later from complications from a bone marrow transplant in an effort to cure her leukemia, at Boston Children's Hospital.

“This year—2021—was another difficult, but ultimately successful year for Paige’s Butterfly Run,” said Paige Arnold’s father, Chris Arnold. “We adapted to a second COVID year, and with the aid of our community participants, corporate sponsors and the Upstate Foundation we have been able to fully fund all the requests made by the staff of the Waters Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders at Upstate. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to say this, and is a great cap to the holiday season for all involved!”

Gregory Conners, MD, MPH, MBA, chair of Pediatrics and executive director of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, offered his thanks for the support. “Paige’s Butterfly Run is available to our patients at every turn,” he said. “The organization benefits our patients in so many ways, from research to patient care amenities. I’m grateful to Chris Arnold and the organization’s steadfast support of our mission.”

Melanie Comito, MD, the Paige Yeomans Arnold Endowed Professor in Pediatric Oncology and division chief of the Waters Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders at Upstate, applauded the donation. “Paige Butterfly Run strengthens our research into pediatric cancer and supports families along the way of this journey called a cancer diagnosis. Every day I see the impact that Paige’s does to make this journey a little easier and provide hope for tomorrow.”

“Paige’s Butterfly Run has been there for patients and their families for the last 25 years,” said Toni Gary of the Upstate Foundation. “We cannot thank Paige’s Butterfly Run enough and all those who support this important organization in our community for their generous gifts.”

Already this year, Paige’s Butterfly Run in partnership with the Upstate Foundation, has supported a $1.5 million endowed professorship at Upstate, held by Comito, as well as a legacy gift from Chris Arnold in support of future needs of the Waters Center.

Caption: Chris Arnold of  Paige's Butterfly Run, right, presents a $126,000 check to Upstate's Melanie Comito, MD, the Paige Yeomans Arnold Endowed Professor in Pediatric Oncology , and Greg Conners, MD, MPH, MBA, chair of Pediatrics and executive director of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.