Cindy Crawford celebrates cancer survivors with Wis. reunion By JENNY PRICE Associated Press Writer MADISON, Wis. _ When supermodel Cindy Crawford's younger brother died of leukemia more than 25 years ago, a reunion of more than 200 childhood cancer survivors from University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital didn't seem possible. "Cancer is not a death sentence anymore," said Crawford, who has given both her time and money for more than a decade to the hospital where her 4-year-old brother, Jeffrey, was treated. "The kind of leukemia my brother had is now 80 percent curable." Saturday marks the third UW reunion for childhood cancer survivors. Twice as many are expected this year as when the first reunion was held in 1993. Survivors are expected to attend from cities including: Cassville, Green Bay, Janesville, Marshall, Mount Horeb, Rhinelander and Windsor. Crawford, 37, who grew up in DeKalb, Ill., has attended each of the "Kids with Courage" gatherings in Madison. Dr. Paul Sondel, head of the hospital's pediatric oncology program, said Crawford's financial and personal support has been invaluable as the hospital makes strides in cancer treatments for children. "It's her willingness to come and meet face-to-face with these children, both in the hospital where they appreciate her so much, and at the event," he said. "And then the financial support she's providing, which is going primarily to support our ongoing research." Sondel said Crawford's financial help has made it possible for the program to hire a new researcher. She also has contributed to a fund that helps patients and their families pay for phone calls, transportation and other needs, he said. But Crawford said what's most important to her is spending time with children undergoing cancer treatment or those who have survived the disease. She said she hopes to continue assisting the hospital's efforts and return for future reunion events. "The great thing about this is you see the miracles, you meet the miracles," she said. "It's so not my day ... I just feel lucky to be in the room." Sondel said for him it is overwhelming to see so many children who were once treated at the hospital now grown up and healthy. "There is life after childhood cancer," he said. "For many of these patients, the life after childhood cancer has been charged with a mission to do something with that life." Kelly Cotter, 27, said her goal from the time she was diagnosed with leukemia at age 11 was to help other children with cancer. She recovered after receiving a bone marrow transplant from her brother, Adam, who was a perfect match. She now works as the legislative affairs coordinator for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Children's Oncology Group in Washington. She is returning to Madison for the reunion to lead a seminar on advocacy and the importance of cancer survivors telling their stories. "It's really the most powerful tool for fund-raising and raising awareness," said Cotter, a Madison native whose organization is developing a national childhood cancer advocate network. Jeff Amond, 29, is traveling to the event from Sheboygan, where he works as a social worker. He was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia when he was 5 years old, but has been cancer-free for more than 20 years. His goal is to work at UW Hospital to "help families and children go through what I went through." Amond, who is originally from Neenah, is also the project coordinator for a UW Web site designed for childhood cancer survivors and their families. He said Saturday's event will help families who attend with children still undergoing cancer treatment. "To hear stories of survivorship gives them so much hope and comfort," he said. ___ On the Net: UW Hospital pediatric oncology: http://www.pediatrics.wisc.edu/divisions/hem_onc/ Outlook Web site: http://www.outlook-life.org/ Cindy Crawford official Web site: http://www.cindy.com/