Strength Through The Pandemic

2020: Adjust, Re-Adjust, Rally On!

In a year when the world shut down, Rally showed up with unwavering commitment and extraordinary heart.

As the pandemic took hold in March 2020, fear and uncertainty became the norm. But at Rally, we remained focused on our mission. Right as the world was closing, we awarded $2 million in research grants because our donors had given to fund childhood cancer research, and that’s exactly what we were going to do. No hesitation. No retreat. Just forward.

We heard from so many researchers. Rally was the only foundation that didn’t cut back or pause funding. At a time when research progress was in danger of stalling, we kept going. Our commitment never wavered.

Throughout the year, our motto became our mantra: adjust and readjust.

When we couldn’t gather in person for our largest fundraiser of the year, we reimagined it. In November 2020, we hosted our first-ever Virtual Benefit Bash and introduced the Rally Challenge Teams. Captains stepped up, forming teams and raising a minimum of $25,000 each in a 10-week blind competition. Together, we raised over $1 million, proving that even in isolation, our Rally community is unstoppable.

We were inspired by our families, those already in the fight. The majority of them were not overcome by the pandemic because they were already living cautiously, already used to disinfectants, masks and isolation. But what broke our hearts were the families diagnosed during the pandemic.

They faced a heartbreaking, lonely and terrifying road. No hospital visitors. No in-person support. No opportunity to meet other families or foundations who could walk with them. The isolation they endured still weighs heavy on us today.

Yet, through it all, Rally pressed on , committed to the kids, the research, the families and the future.

And in 2020, in the beginning of a global pandemic, Dr. Cheung’s bold neuroblastoma research that Rally had funded 13 years earlier made history. Danyelza (naxitamab) was FDA approved, a breakthrough treatment for kids with high-risk neuroblastoma, funded in honor of our second Rally Kid, Alexa. Several Rally Kids were part of the trials.

This is what hope looks like.

This is the power of people.

This is the power of purpose.

This is Rally.