Fundraiser Details
When
100 miles between September 1st and 30th.
$20,000 for children with cancer and their families.
Let’s go for a walk!
Already know who I am, what this is, and feel eager to support? Donate here!
If not – have I got a story for you…
------------------------------------------
Hi, I'm Elana. A 34-year-old, 2x breast cancer survivor, long-distance wilderness hiker, and seasoned child-whisperer. Just after my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with a breast cancer so rare at my age that it had never been studied. There was no way of knowing my chances of survival or recurrence. Fortunately, with a brilliant medical team, treatment options, and a giant network of love and support on my side, we were able to vanquish the Beast.
Cancer-free again, I went on to earn my M.Ed in Educational Psychology: Applied Developmental Science at UVA and began connecting with pediatric oncology communities. I’ve worked and volunteered in that world ever since – as an NIH medical assistant, a summer camp counselor, and a Mental Emotional Social Health (MESH) director.
Three years later, The Beast came back. Not a recurrence, but a brand new one. This time there was only one thing left to do: the boobies had to go. One paper mache sculpture of my bust and an avalanche of emotions later, I found myself braving a double mastectomy over New Year’s Eve. I chased away the shock of this with four months of chemo cocktails to hedge my best bet and recently entered the final chapter of this journey: reconstructive surgery.
“Fooby” = fake booby. And now you know!
------------------------------------------
Here’s my game plan.
100 miles in 30 days (6 weeks post-op and 4 months out from chemo) and $20,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation during Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Some of these miles will be logged right here in Chicago on sidewalks. Others will be way up in northern Michigan, exploring moonless nights along the shore of Lake Superior in a valiant attempt to witness the elusive Aurora Borealis – a lifelong dream of mine.
Like a quest to see the Northern Lights, a face-off with cancer rarely (if ever) offers guarantees. All too often, I've longed for the power to magically poof away cancer and all the suffering that comes with it. Alas, no such magic wand has been invented (yet). Nevertheless, I believe that if there is any kind of magic in this world, it exists in our capacity to love and care for one another.
------------------------------------------
Why this? Why now?
I am alive and well today because people just like you and me came together to advocate for better ways to cure cancer. Thanks to their dedication and generosity, care plans existed for me long before I ever knew I’d need them. I've now had not one, but two opportunities to continue making the most of this life. I want every kid with cancer to have the chance to know what that feels like.
In the US, 200+ cancer drugs have been approved for adults. For kids, that number is about 67. And of those 67, fewer than 10 were created specifically for developing bodies. Most therapies available for children are adaptations of regimens initially designed for adult bodies. Since children aren't miniature adults, these limitations have serious long-term health implications. Chances of survival are better than ever, yet over 95% of these brave kiddos still end up saddled with a full spectrum of treatment-related health challenges. Life amounts to more than just being alive, and kids deserve better than hand-me-down treatments.
There are brilliant hearts and minds out there, right now, working tirelessly to preserve the magic of childhood and discover cures. But an ongoing drought plagues the pediatric cancer landscape. Rivers of funding remain insufficient, leaving our heroes chronically parched and forced to ration resources. They’re in dire need of a downpour, and together we have the power to change the weather.
So, let’s make it rain!
------------------------------------------
One tap, ten seconds, any amount, and voilà – you’ve helped! Here's what I love about where this money goes. When you're thirsty, nobody hands you a weather report – they hand you a cup. Alex Scott was 4 years old when she started handing out cups of lemonade. Every cup Alex poured in her 8 years of life was filled to the brim with sweet, hydrating hope. Twenty years later, her spirit lives on. Every dollar you donate goes straight into her pitcher, directly funding cutting-edge research and quality of life resources.
On Alex's first birthday, she became paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors said she would likely never be able to walk…but Alex had other plans. A little bit of movement at a time, she found her way – first with a walker and braces, then eventually on her own. I pledge to go the distance for every kid like Alex who is determined to make moves in their life. Pick a number, cap it wherever feels right, and let my legs do the rest. Fair warning: I'm a former thru-hiker with thirty days at my disposal, my latest clash with cancer in the rearview mirror, and a genuinely unhinged amount of enthusiasm. Oh, and did I mention that my new foobies are aerodynamic?
Super easy - just click "Join the Team" and sign up with your email! You'll be in good company – thousands of people around the world are coming together to raise awareness, fund hope, and have fun doing it. Together, we’ll log our activity and strive to tally a million miles by the end of September! Any distance, anywhere on the planet, any kind of movement -- it all counts. You don’t need to be super active to participate. Just go for a wander and let it mean something. Walk a dog (or a cat, if you’re ambitious). Chase a toddler (preferably one who knows you). Throw a dance party in your kitchen. Whatever you do, have fun with it!
With all my heart, thank you for supporting me on my journey -- and thank you for supporting them on theirs!
For progress updates and more musings, follow Fooby and The Beast:
