Chicago-area Pediatric Cancer Charity Gets a Surprise from Taylor Swift

CHICAGO, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (CNCF), a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and money to fund a cure for neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer, is country music star Taylor Swift's charity of choice for the 2012 CMT Music Awards June 6 in Nashville.

The fan-voted show honors the year's top country videos and musical achievements. (Vote at http://www.cmt.com/cmt-music-awards/categories.jhtml.) CMT will make a donation on behalf of the winners in each category to their charity. CNCF stands to benefit from up to three nominations for Video of the Year for "Safe and Sound" featuring Swift with the Civil Wars; Female Video of the Year for "Ours"; and Collaborative Video of the Year for "Safe and Sound."

"We are so excited about this opportunity to raise awareness about neuroblastoma on a national stage through such a talented and delightful young lady as Taylor Swift," said CNCF President Pat Tallungan. "We're an organization of families and friends. Some who have lost children to neuroblastoma; some who've seen lives saved. It's this hope that unites us. We're going to do all that we can to help Taylor win at the CMT Music Awards. Taylor, we are eternally grateful and wish you all the best."

Tallungan co-founded CNCF in 2000 after her 10-year-old son, Nick, succumbed to the disease. Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor cancer with a higher incidence rate in infants than leukemia; survival rates are about 40 percent for patients with aggressive, high-risk disease.

CNCF, based in the Chicago suburb of Bloomingdale, IL, in DuPage County, has raised more than $2 million for neuroblastoma research and education.

Contact: T. Shawn Taylor | tshawntaylor@yahoo.com |312-371-6260.

The Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (CNCF) is! a non-p rofit national health organization committed to finding a cure for neuroblastoma through research, education, awareness and advocacy. The premier source for neuroblastoma information and resources, CNCF initiatives educate the public about a disease dramatically lacking in awareness and funding. It serves as an advocate for families, as well as a liaison between healthcare providers and families. See cncfhope.org.