New Programs, New City, New Therapies

Dr. John Maris working on MIBG combination therapy for neuroblastoma.

Some years bring slow, steady progress. But 2010? It was a leap.

Rally continued early funding for Dr. John M. Maris’s promising MIBG combination therapy for neuroblastoma, a treatment that has given many children a second chance at life.

We launched not one, but three major initiatives that would shape the heart of Rally for years to come.

First up — Rally On the Runway. We hosted our inaugural fashion show where Rally Kids made their modeling debuts, each escorted down the runway by professional athletes. It was powerful. Emotional. Unforgettable. What began as one dazzling night has now expanded into three cities across the country, raising more than $3 million just last year. But it’s never just about the dollars. It’s about the courage, the smiles and the spotlight these kids deserve.

Next, Rally Nashville was born. Elaine Kay called Dean, our founder and CEO, and said, “I’m ready.” Her son James had bravely battled Ewing sarcoma of the kidney, and now she was ready to give back. And boy, did she! Rally Nashville didn’t just start — it soared, becoming one of our strongest communities and a beacon of hope in Music City.

Finally, we launched our Rally Family Emergency Fund. Because when a child is diagnosed with cancer, families don’t just face the fear of the disease — they face financial turmoil, too. Bills don’t stop. Rent is due. The power bill arrives. And that’s where Rally steps in. We pay bills directly to vendors, making sure the lights stay on, and the water runs while families focus on what matters most: their child. Since 2010, we’ve helped more than 3,000 families in 48 states.

2010 wasn’t just a year of milestones. It was a year of movement.

This is the power of people.

This is the power of purpose.

This is Rally.