Laura Sypek, affectionately called "Loopy" by her family, was a vibrant and courageous 6^th grade student when Neuroblastoma, a solid tumor childhood cancer, took her life. Diagnosed at the age of two, she battled the disease for most of her life. Despite her age, she worked actively to raise money for cancer research.

Laura’s favorite food while in treatment was homemade tomato and elbow macaroni soup. She started calling it “Soupy for Loopy” and the name stuck. Family and friends held the first “Soupy for Loopy” fundraiser on October 14, 2006 to raise awareness of Neuroblastoma, and to help provide funding for further research.

Soupy for Loopy Foundation exists to continue Laura’s efforts to battle Neuroblastoma and childhood cancer, by raising awareness of the disease and by raising money to fund research into treatment and eventually a cure. Neuroblastoma is a complex tumor of the sympathetic nervous system, a condition that has been known for 35 years. Still, there is very little known about why Neuroblastoma occurs, or what factors increase risk for occurrence.

Cancer is the # 1 cause of death by disease in children. (CureSearch)

In the United States in 2007, approximately 10,400 children under age 15 were diagnosed with cancer and about 1,545 children will die from the disease. (National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health)

Neuroblastoma is by far the most common cancer in infants and the fourth most common type of cancer in children. There are approximately 650 new cases of Neuroblastoma each year in the United States. This number has held steady for many years. In as many as 6 or 7 of 10 cases, the disease is not diagnosed until it has already spread (metastasized). (American Cancer Society)

The cause of Neuroblastoma is unknown. (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

Neuroblastoma is one of the childhood cancers most resistant to treatment. (The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Approximately 50% of children with Neuroblastoma will have high-risk disease, which often reoccurs, or relapses, or becomes resistant to standard therapies and gets worse. (NANT (New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy))

Neuroblastomas are highly diverse in their behavior. (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

• Age of the child when diagnosed
• Stage of the cancer
• Location of the tumor in the body
• Tumor histology (the shape, function, and structure of the tumor cells)

(Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center)

By the time Neuroblastoma is diagnosed, the disease has usually spread to other parts of the body, most often to the lymph nodes, bones, bone marrow, liver and skin. (National Cancer Institute)

Staging is the most important factor in estimating the prognosis and choosing the most appropriate treatment. (American Cancer Society)

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