Leaders in technology and healthcare are raising their voices to fight cancer — for real this time. Organizers at Tech Tackles Cancer, a charity fundraising program operated by the non-profit Hack Reduce, aim to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and treatment through song.
Although the charity has hosted events in Boston before, this November will be the first time Tech Tackles Cancer is challenging local technology companies to compete in a live-band karaoke competition. So far, the team has raised $195,976 of their $250,000 goal with 30 companies registered.
“We wanted to come up with an idea that’s more company-focused,” said executive advisor Cort Johnson. “We feel like within every company there’s a person who will get up there and sing whether or not they should.”
Here’s how it works: companies register as a team with a nominated performer. Starting with a $100 entry free, song options and perks increase on a sliding scale — teams unlock access to a Top 40 song list when they reach $1,000, have access to more hits at $10,000, and can select any song they want if they reach $50,000.
The competition will be judged by a combination of audience voting and funds raised. And the money will go to research on bioinformatics and big data at St. Baldricks, financial relief programs at One Mission, and simulator research at Boston Children’s Hospital.
“Kids don’t make the dumb mistakes that adults to like forgetting to put on sunscreen or smoking cigarettes,” event chair Tom Barry said.
Barry said the team added more charities than previous years to diversify the areas of concern funds are allotted to. “Boston is a leading area when it comes to cancer research, so it made sense for us to focus on more areas.”
Boston tech companies can register and learn more here.
