2003 & 2004 TOURNAMENT PURPOSE

One of the priorities of Doernbecher Children's Hospital is the expansion of the Kenneth W. Ford Northwest Cancer Center to accommodate the more than 80 percent of young cancer patients in Oregon (and Southwest Washington) who rely upon Doernbecher for its cutting-edge and life saving cancer treatments. All of the $30,000 raised through the 17th Annual First Tech Credit Union Doernbecher Softball Touranment went towards this cause last year. The funds from the 18th Annual Doernbecher Softball Tournament will also help make possible the urgently needed cancer center expansion at Doernbecher. The expansion will add 22 new inpatient rooms as well as a new infusion center. Overall, the expansion will allow Doernbecher to accommodate a 70 percent increase in patient procedures over the next decade and ensure that there is a bed for every child who needs one. The project will be solely funded by philanthropic dollars, so fundraising will continue until all the money is raised. Doernbecher is currently anticipating beginning construction this summer with completion in 2006.

As part of OHSU, the state's only academic health and science center, Doernbecher combines healing, teaching, discovery and outreach in its mission to improve the health of all children. The funds from the 18th Annual Doernbecher Softball Tournament ensure that Doernbecher continues to care for the Northwest's best legacy - our kids.

Past Tournament Purposes:

Fundraising Purpose of 2002:
With nationally recognized programs in pediatric heart surgery, neurosurgery and cancer, Doernbecher Children's Hospital provides primary and specialized care to 40,000 patients each year from Oregon, Southwest Washington and beyond.

The money raised from the 16th Annual Doernbecher Softball Tournament will again support the children at Doernbecher. However, this year we will not simply help the patients who need the state-of-the-art ECMO machine. The funds will help the 40,000 patients who receive care at Doernbecher each year for everything from Cancer to trauma, and Cystic Fibrosis to heart disease. These funds will ensure that these patients and their families, 60 percent of whom are uninsured or underinsured, will have access to the best medical available.

As part of OHSU, the state's only academic health and science center, Doernbecher combines healing, teaching, discovery and outreach in its mission to improve the health of all children. The funds from the 16th Annual Doernbecher Softball Tournament ensure that Doernbecher continues to care for the Northwest's best legacy - our kids.

Fundraising Purpose for 2001:
The softball money was used to purchase an ECMO machine for the Pediatric Cardiology Surgical Suite. The ECMO machine was purchased for a price of $60,000. Thus, the money raised from softball paid for about half of this machine. The machine is now in use in the surgery suite.

ECMO stands for ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. It is the use of an artificial heart-lung machine for patients whose heart or lungs are failing despite all other treatments. The ECMO equipment functions as a heart (pump) and lung (providing oxygen). It takes over the work of these organs so they can rest and heal.

ECMO is used for children and adult patients with severe, but reversible heart or lung disorders that have not responded to the usual treatments of mechanical ventilation (ventilator), medicines, and extra oxygen. ECMO will not cure these conditions; it does give support and allows time for the lungs/heart to heal.

With nationally recognized programs in pediatric heart surgery, neurosurgery and cancer, Doernbecher Children's Hospital provides primary and specialized care to 40,000 patients each year from Oregon, Southwest Washington and beyond. As part of OHSU, the state's only academic health and science center, Doernbecher combines healing, teaching, discovery and outreach in its mission to improve the health of all children.