Rally Good Meals: Feeding Childhood Cancer Families on Their Journey to the Bell
Rally not only impacts the lives of children with cancer, but the lives of their whole families. I know this because I am the sister of a Rally Kid. My name is Catherine Barr. My sister, Sarah, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma—a type of bone cancer—in 2009 at the age of 12. I was 11 at the time. Sarah fought bravely for seven and a half years. She passed away in 2016. Sarah was so gentle and kind, all while being the biggest nerd. She excelled in school and wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. Her family and her faith were the most important things to her. Despite the hardships she endured, Sarah remained joyful and selfless. She is my hero and inspiration. I am currently in my last semester at Georgia College & State University. When I found out I could select a nonprofit to work with for my senior capstone project, I knew it had to be Rally! I was thrilled to have...
$2 Million in Grants!
Can you believe it? Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research just awarded $2 million in childhood cancer research grants. If you had asked us one year ago today, this is not what we would have predicted. It is because of you that we were able to do this. Thank you! Thank you to our supporters and Rally Challenge Teams who made each of these grants possible by adjusting the way funds were raised. Thank you to our Rally Medical Advisory Board who offered guidance when so much was unknown. Thank you to our partners in the Collaborative Pediatric Cancer Research Awards Program: The Truth 365, Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer, Open Hands Overflowing Hearts, Luke Tatsu Johnson Foundation, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the Osteosarcoma Institute; like-minded foundations working together to co-fund projects...
“See You On Monday”
A year ago Friday I looked at the Rally staff and said, “See you on Monday.” On Saturday, I spent the day doing research on COVID-19. By Saturday night I was looking up best practices for working from home. On Sunday, I called the leadership team together. Within two hours we had three Zoom accounts and a meeting scheduled with the whole team. I told the Rally team we would be sheltering in place and meeting by Zoom each morning and afternoon. I broke the news that we would not have any of our three scheduled Rally On the Runway events and that the advocacy team would not be going to Washington, D.C. the next week as planned. I shared that we were going to take our inspiration from our Rally families, who adjust and readjust almost on a daily basis without seemingly missing a beat. One team member said, “Childhood cancer isn’t going to take a break because of this pandemic, and neither...
Two Girls. Three Cancers. One Goal.
When Rally Kid Peyton was 15, her life was going as planned. She filled her time with rigorous academics, cross country and lacrosse. Nearing the winter of her sophomore year, Peyton’s quick feet began holding out and persistent headaches became unbearable. To Peyton's “utter disappointment” she was diagnosed with two types of leukemia. Peyton soon began a five-month treatment plan, receiving chemotherapy, full-body radiation and a bone marrow transplant. Sadly, she relapsed almost immediately. Peyton had to start treatment again, including a clinical trial and another bone marrow transplant. Her chances of survival were slim. But Peyton—being the strong and relentless fighter she is—persevered through her second battle against leukemia. A year and a half following her initial diagnosis, Peyton was finally cancer-free! I too was a normal kid before cancer. I spent my days dancing at my...
What is Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH)?
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder in which the body produces an overabundance of Langerhans cells. These cells, which are also known as histiocytes, are a type of white blood cell that helps the immune system fight off infections. LCH causes too many of these cells to form, ultimately resulting in a buildup in the body. This accumulation of cells then damages organs, forms tumors, and otherwise disrupts normal tissue functions. According to the Histiocytosis Association, approximately one in 200,000 children is diagnosed with LCH. LCH is classified into three syndromes: Eosinophilic granuloma: the most common type that occurs most often in children who are five to 15 years of age Hand-Schüller-Christian disease: a chronic form of LCH that is typically diagnosed before the age of five Letterer-Siwe disease: a rare and potentially fatal syndrome that affects children...
What is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that attacks immune system cells called lymphocytes, causing them to grow abnormally and out of control. Lymphocytes are found throughout the body in organs that make up the lymphatic system—including the spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and the thymus gland. Lymphoma is the third most common form of cancer in children, following leukemia and brain tumors. There are two main types of lymphoma: Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin. Each type involves different lymphocytes, can grow at different rates and may respond differently to treatments. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can occur at any age and is more common in boys. There are four main Non-Hodgkin subtypes found in children: anaplastic large cell, large B-cell, lymphoblastic and Burkitt. Burkitt lymphoma is highly aggressive and extremely fast-growing. Hodgkin lymphoma most commonly affects adolescents and young adults, but...
Rally Good Meals: Feeding Childhood Cancer Families on Their Journey to the Bell
Rally not only impacts the lives of children with cancer, but the lives of their whole families. I know this because I am the sister of a Rally Kid. My name is Catherine Barr. My sister, Sarah, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma—a type of bone cancer—in 2009 at the age of 12. I was 11 at the time. Sarah fought bravely for seven and a half years. She passed away in 2016. Sarah was so gentle and kind, all while being the biggest nerd. She excelled in school and wanted to pursue a career in the...
$2 Million in Grants!
Can you believe it? Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research just awarded $2 million in childhood cancer research grants. If you had asked us one year ago today, this is not what we would have predicted. It is because of you that we were able to do this. Thank you! Thank you to our supporters and Rally Challenge Teams who made each of these grants possible by adjusting the way funds were raised. Thank you to our Rally Medical Advisory Board who offered guidance when so much was unknown....
“See You On Monday”
A year ago Friday I looked at the Rally staff and said, “See you on Monday.” On Saturday, I spent the day doing research on COVID-19. By Saturday night I was looking up best practices for working from home. On Sunday, I called the leadership team together. Within two hours we had three Zoom accounts and a meeting scheduled with the whole team. I told the Rally team we would be sheltering in place and meeting by Zoom each morning and afternoon. I broke the news that we would not have any of our...
Two Girls. Three Cancers. One Goal.
When Rally Kid Peyton was 15, her life was going as planned. She filled her time with rigorous academics, cross country and lacrosse. Nearing the winter of her sophomore year, Peyton’s quick feet began holding out and persistent headaches became unbearable. To Peyton's “utter disappointment” she was diagnosed with two types of leukemia. Peyton soon began a five-month treatment plan, receiving chemotherapy, full-body radiation and a bone marrow transplant. Sadly, she relapsed almost...
What is Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH)?
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder in which the body produces an overabundance of Langerhans cells. These cells, which are also known as histiocytes, are a type of white blood cell that helps the immune system fight off infections. LCH causes too many of these cells to form, ultimately resulting in a buildup in the body. This accumulation of cells then damages organs, forms tumors, and otherwise disrupts normal tissue functions. According to the Histiocytosis Association,...
What is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that attacks immune system cells called lymphocytes, causing them to grow abnormally and out of control. Lymphocytes are found throughout the body in organs that make up the lymphatic system—including the spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and the thymus gland. Lymphoma is the third most common form of cancer in children, following leukemia and brain tumors. There are two main types of lymphoma: Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin. Each type involves different lymphocytes, can...