Jacob is 15 years old and likes hanging out with friends, listening to music, cats and making the occasional bad pun! 
 
A typical teenager now, when Jacob was 2 years old be began complaining of back pain that quickly increased in severity. He had an MRI and was quickly admitted to the hospital where a cancerous tumor on his spine was discovered. A successful tumor resection removed most of the tumor and a short time later, Jacob began chemotherapy, which he continued for a year and a half. 
 
Jacob experienced several clear scans, but his tumor returned approximately a year and a half later. He underwent another year of treatment, but wonderfully, has been off treatment for 8 years. 
His mom Brenda notes how grateful that she is that Jacob experienced no ill side effects from his treatment and he’s had a healthy childhood since. She marvels at how, even at such a young age, Jacob handled all of his treatment with such resilience and was able to just “roll with it.” 
 
Shocked by how underfunded childhood cancer research is, Brenda and her family have held annual Alex’s Lemonade Stands for several years. In addition to her hope that her son will grow up happy and healthy, she wants pediatric cancer research to become a funding priority, which will result in better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. 
 
Quote from hero: "Sometimes it isn't about the battles you have with others; it's the battles you have with yourself."
 
Information provided by Brenda Beard, Jacob’s Mom
September 2014