A Letter from Rally Kid Peyton to Families Battling Cancer
Dear families experiencing childhood cancer and pediatric palliative care doctors, I am a Rally Kid and a first-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In my Biology 101 class, we just finished learning about cancer. Sitting in class as one who was diagnosed with cancer when I was teenager (ALL and AML as a sophomore in high school), it was hard to sit still in my seat and listen to my professor explain the traumatic effects of uncontrolled cell division without thinking two things: Cancer is so much more than the biology behind the disease. Wow, I am really blessed to be on the other side of the battle when so many patients and families today are not. And whenever I think about how blessed I have been (yes, blessed) with my particular experience, I am always reminded of how great my care team really was to me. Palliative care was a HUGE part of my...
B.B. Summits Mt. Kilimanjaro and Raising $130,000!
Congratulations are in order for Rally Advisory Board Member B.B. Abbott, who recently summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in order to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. To date, B.B. has raised just over $130,000 through his efforts! After a week-long climb, B.B. was greeted with 30 MPH winds and freezing temperatures of -20 degrees. The cold, however, couldn’t stop B.B. from smiling as he placed two flags at the summit, one for each organization that he fundraised for: Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. B.B. began his journey because of the pain and suffering that kids and their families feel when they are diagnosed with cancer. “I sometimes find myself wondering what it must feel like to be a kid who gets the devastating news that he or she has cancer,” B.B. shared in this blog post. “Throughout the 10 years that I have...
The Truth About Palliative Care—It’s Better Than You Might Think
For many pediatric cancer patients and their families, palliative care is a beacon of comfort during the extreme discomfort of symptoms, side effects and the stress that goes along with their diagnosis. Because of this, we wanted to showcase the importance of pediatric palliative care and how it can make a difference in the lives of children fighting cancer. Last year, we talked to pediatric hematologist-oncologist Katharine Brock, MD, MS, who specializes in palliative medicine at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). As one of 43 doctors specializing in pediatric hematology-oncology at CHOA, Dr. Brock has made it her mission to improve the care experience for both patients and their families. One of our Rally Kids and her mom, Cheryl, found Dr. Brock particularly comforting during their time in palliative care. “Dr. Brock was extremely helpful in managing my pain. I was in so much...
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro For Kids Fighting Cancer
I sometimes find myself wondering what it must feel like to be a kid who gets the devastating news that he or she has cancer. Throughout the 10 years that I have supported pediatric cancer awareness I have heard so many stories of disbelief, grief and anger that I have come to feel more sadness with each one. Part of the pain I feel is due to the unfathomable nature of the information, as well as the age, frailty and naivety of the kids that have to hear it. With that being said, it's the next piece of the story that always truly amazes me - the part where each child says "I am going to beat this" followed by the families that say "what can I do to help?" The resilience of children leaves me in awe and their courage, many times, leaves tears in my eyes. It is these qualities that have set me on a course that will change my life, and hopefully the lives of kids fighting childhood . On...
2019 Rally Foundation Year In Review
Thank you for caring about kids fighting cancer, and thank you for giving toRally For Their Future. Rally Kid Brecklynn, who is six years old and has fought cancer twice, put it best: She said that all she wanted was to be a “plain girl,” meaning she just wanted to be a normal little girl playing dress up and having tea parties—not getting needle pokes and chemo cocktails. Your financial gift allows kids like Brecklynn, who are fighting cancer, to have the chance to be a “plain kid.” Your gift truly gives hope For Their Future. Cancer takes so much from these precious kids. The drugs used to treat them are harsh, outdated and come with a plethora of harmful side effects. Rally Kid Keren endured painful treatments. Not only did she lose her hair and a year of school, but she also lost her leg. Kids with cancer need you. We need you. We cannot do this without you. We are philanthropic...
How Rally Kid Keren Lets Her Light Shine
No matter how you look at it, childhood cancer is devasting for everyone involved. From harsh treatments to emotional trauma, there’s no shortage of obstacles to overcome while battling this ruthless disease. Despite these struggles, there is one positive thing our Rally Kids and their families recommend doing: Enjoy every moment and live life to the fullest. 12-year-old Keren believes wholeheartedly in cherishing every minute with her family and staying positive despite the odds. Throughout a long battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumor that occurs in soft tissue, Keren makes the most of every day as she looks toward a happy, healthy future. That future includes big plans, as she hopes to be cancer-free and entering the eighth grade in two years. In six years, she sees herself graduating high school and getting an internship. In 15 years? She hopes to be married with a few...
A Letter from Rally Kid Peyton to Families Battling Cancer
Dear families experiencing childhood cancer and pediatric palliative care doctors, I am a Rally Kid and a first-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In my Biology 101 class, we just finished learning about cancer. Sitting in class as one who was diagnosed with cancer when I was teenager (ALL and AML as a sophomore in high school), it was hard to sit still in my seat and listen to my professor explain the traumatic effects of uncontrolled cell division without...
B.B. Summits Mt. Kilimanjaro and Raising $130,000!
Congratulations are in order for Rally Advisory Board Member B.B. Abbott, who recently summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in order to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. To date, B.B. has raised just over $130,000 through his efforts! After a week-long climb, B.B. was greeted with 30 MPH winds and freezing temperatures of -20 degrees. The cold, however, couldn’t stop B.B. from smiling as he placed two flags at the summit, one for each organization that he fundraised for: Rally Foundation for...
The Truth About Palliative Care—It’s Better Than You Might Think
For many pediatric cancer patients and their families, palliative care is a beacon of comfort during the extreme discomfort of symptoms, side effects and the stress that goes along with their diagnosis. Because of this, we wanted to showcase the importance of pediatric palliative care and how it can make a difference in the lives of children fighting cancer. Last year, we talked to pediatric hematologist-oncologist Katharine Brock, MD, MS, who specializes in palliative medicine at Children’s...
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro For Kids Fighting Cancer
I sometimes find myself wondering what it must feel like to be a kid who gets the devastating news that he or she has cancer. Throughout the 10 years that I have supported pediatric cancer awareness I have heard so many stories of disbelief, grief and anger that I have come to feel more sadness with each one. Part of the pain I feel is due to the unfathomable nature of the information, as well as the age, frailty and naivety of the kids that have to hear it. With that being said, it's the next...
2019 Rally Foundation Year In Review
Thank you for caring about kids fighting cancer, and thank you for giving toRally For Their Future. Rally Kid Brecklynn, who is six years old and has fought cancer twice, put it best: She said that all she wanted was to be a “plain girl,” meaning she just wanted to be a normal little girl playing dress up and having tea parties—not getting needle pokes and chemo cocktails. Your financial gift allows kids like Brecklynn, who are fighting cancer, to have the chance to be a “plain kid.” Your gift...
How Rally Kid Keren Lets Her Light Shine
No matter how you look at it, childhood cancer is devasting for everyone involved. From harsh treatments to emotional trauma, there’s no shortage of obstacles to overcome while battling this ruthless disease. Despite these struggles, there is one positive thing our Rally Kids and their families recommend doing: Enjoy every moment and live life to the fullest. 12-year-old Keren believes wholeheartedly in cherishing every minute with her family and staying positive despite the odds. Throughout a...