The MACC Fund, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc., will contribute $1.2 million on Monday to its three beneficiaries: the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. These research contributions will bring the total of the MACC Fund’s contributions since its inception in 1976 to over $50 million.

The MACC Fund began on the retirement night of Jon McGlocklin from the Milwaukee Bucks. McGlocklin, MACC Fund president and co-founder, said "I have been asked many times if I could see what the MACC Fund would accomplish over the years and did I realize the impact it would have on the lives of children and their families. I could only hope that someday we would have given $50 million in the fight against childhood cancer and blood disorders helping cure rates to steadily increase for our children. Now we must continue to fight until we win the war."

The overall cure rate for childhood cancer has risen from 20 to 80 percent during the 37-year history of the MACC Fund.  MACC Fund officials say the final 20 percent remains the goal while also recognizing that even children in the 80 percent category can have "late effect" issues which require more research.

Eddie Doucette, the original "radio voice of the Milwaukee Bucks," is the MACC Fund’s Honorary Vice President and Co-Founder. His son Brett’s battle with leukemia as a toddler served as the impetus for the creation of the MACC Fund. Brett, an early MACC Fund "success story," recently turned 41.

Doucette noted "if someone would have suggested in 1976 that someday we would be able to contribute $50 million specifically earmarked for research to eradicate pediatric cancers I would have thought it unfathomable. Back then the cure rate was 20%, today it's over 80%. What a tremendous testimony this is to the way people in this region have supported the MACC Fund mission through the years. To all who have made this milestone achievement possible by giving their dimes and dollars, my sincere, heartfelt thank you."

MACC Fund supported scientific research is conducted in the 6-story MACC Fund Research Center of the Medical College of Wisconsin and in the 14,000 square foot MACC Fund Childhood Cancer Research Wing of the Wisconsin Interdisciplinary Medical Research Center at the university of Wisconsin.  Translational, clinical based research is conducted in the MACC Fund Center of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.