Kids Helping Kids

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Addison Ficker, Isabella’s Dream Team

Blow out some candles and have a piece of cake!  It’s our youngest Dream Team member’s birthday!  Happy 12th Birthday Addison! 

What an honor to have Addison as a part of the ISF Dream Team.  She started running in 3rd grade through her elementary school.  Ever since, she has participated in several 5K races, pushing herself to beat her previous time.

Addison and her family volunteered at the ISF 5K/10K race last year, and they were amazed at how ISF was making a difference in our Charlotte community.  During this same time, a dear family friend, Noah Hays (#noahstrong), was battling cancer after being diagnosed at the age of 15.  Witnessing this cancer fight was tough for Addison, and she wanted to find a way to help with pediatric cancer.  

Addison learned about the ISF Dream Team and she thought this was a perfect fit for her to run and give back.  The Dream Team combines her love of running and helping others.  She wants to do whatever she can to help raise money because “no one deserves to have to go through what he (Noah) went through.”

Addison is training for the ISF 10K on September 29th.  Through her training, she has received support from friends and family through donations.  She and her friends recently raised over $100 at a neighborhood lemonade stand they organized.  Her family also hosted a hot dog cookout that raised over $500.  

We are truly amazed at your dedication Addison!  Happy Birthday from the Isabella Santos Foundation and the ISF Dream Team.

Inspired to help support Addison?  Click here to make a donation to her fundraising page.  

ISF Dream Team

The ISF Dream Team, created in 2014, is a running group that assists you in training to run the race of your dreams.  You can train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, half marathon relay, full marathon relay, or a full marathon.  You are provided a training schedule, invited to group runs, and inspired by a phenomenal team of people.  Not only will you meet a dynamic group of people, but you will also be inspired through your friends and family as they support you through the training.  The ISF Dream Team has raised over $400,000 to date, with the funds contributing to our local Charlotte pediatric cancer community.  If you want to join the ISF Dream Team, we would love to hear from you.  Please email us at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.

A Pedicure & A Race to Find the Cure

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Contributed by Wheela Sunstrom

Jenn Andrews

Most events in our daily lives go by largely unnoticed, without incident: Trips to the grocery store.  Practices for kids’ sports teams. Extracurricular school activities. Even a trip to the nail salon. But for Jenn Andrews, the latter occurrence would send an active woman on an unexpected trajectory, dictating some life-changing decisions and adjustments.

The size of a pea.

The process of getting a pedicure is generally effortless. You pick a color, settle into a comfy seat, and slip your toes into a luxurious pool of warm water.  The overall experience is mindless, relaxing, and a welcome reprieve from an otherwise chaotic schedule.

This may explain why then-pregnant Jenn didn’t think much else when her nail technician noticed a small lump on her foot. After all, the inconspicuous bump had never been noticed prior to the pampering appointment. It was classified as untroubling in her mind, and subsequently ignored.

Myxoid sarcoma.

During Jenn’s pregnancy with Baby #2, the lump on her foot grew. And so did the news. Suddenly, the salon visit from several years before went from “treat yo’self” to “you need to be treated”…specifically for a life-threatening, cancerous tumor.

An all-too-familiar story emerged after the diagnosis and initial removal of the sarcoma; remission was followed by an unfortunate return of the tumor. Jenn, unable to run from her diagnosis, had to make a difficult call.  Surgeons would perform amputation seven weeks later.

Racing, and beyond…

Now 33-years-old, a mother of 2, and a dog-mom of 3 – there are very few things missing from Jenn’s life. Her foot is certainly not one of those things!  The prosthetic she wears is barely an inconvenience compared to living without worry of recurrence. Jenn continues to fulfill her various roles with gusto, while also  launching her foundation, Move For Jenn, raising funds for sarcoma research and for amputees needing prostheses.  

Jenn Andrews

The next big  personal challenge?  Jenn set her sights on the Isabella Santos Foundation 5K on September 29th, 2018.  It will be her first race since her surgery 5 months ago. And it will be her first run with a new prosthetic.

But Jenn isn’t just running to prove to herself and others that she can do it. While it is admirable (seriously, she’s an inspiration!), Jenn chose the ISF 5K/10K race because rare, soft-tissue cancers like myxoid sarcoma and neuroblastoma are now at the forefront of her mind, having experienced it firsthand. The word “rare” carries new meaning for her, and she realized that rare sarcomas need more attention, more research, and more funding than ever before.  It’s why she uses her situation as an opportunity to help others, and why she started her foundation.

Jenn is running for the cancers you don’t hear about often. The ones that “just don’t happen” to people like her. The ones randomly discovered by nail technicians or during routine doctor appointments. The ones that don’t have a cure. Jenn runs for people who don’t have the options she had. She runs for kids like Isabella Santos, who didn’t have options until it was too late.  And she runs for people who are out of options, and shouldn’t be.

Join the movement. Join badass inspirations like Jenn. Register for the race at: www.5kforKidsCancer.com.

The “C” Word

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Ashley & Brian, Isabella’s Dream Team

The “C” word.  Cancer.  All of us have been affected by cancer . . . . someway, somehow in our lives.  It could be your best friend.  Your neighbor.  Your colleague.  Your mom.  Your brother.  Your wife. Your child.  Regardless of how you have been affected by the “C” word in your life, it isn’t easy.

Ashley Allred has been affected by cancer in her life.  Her first grade teacher was diagnosed with cancer.  Her second grade teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer and unfortunately lost her battle when she was in third grade.  Her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  And then Ashley became a teacher herself… her student was diagnosed with cancer.  It has affected Ashley too many times to count.  She decided it was time to find a way to give back and help find a cure.

Ashley found out about the Isabella Santos Foundation through her elementary school student.  Not only was it a way to support her student, but she could also help raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer. She joined the Isabella’s Dream Team in 2017, training to run a half marathon while raising money for pediatric cancer.  Now, she is helping lead the ISF Dream Team, training to run another race, raising money for pediatric cancer through her connections and creative partnerships, and she is making a difference.  

If you want to honor someone in your life who has been affected by cancer, you can help make a difference too.  It’s not too late to join the Dream Team. 

ISF Dream Team

The ISF Dream Team, created in 2014, is a running group that assists you in training to run the race of your dreams.  You can train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, half marathon relay, full marathon relay, or a full marathon.  You are provided a training schedule, invited to group runs, and inspired by a phenomenal team of people.  Not only will you meet a dynamic group of people, but you will also be inspired through your friends and family as they support you through the training.  The ISF Dream Team has raised over $400,000 to date, with the funds contributing to our local Charlotte pediatric cancer community.  If you want to join the ISF Dream Team, we would love to hear from you.  Please email us at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.

#WishWednesday: American Girl Gifts

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The Isabella Santos Foundation September 5k/10/Fun Run for Kids Cancer event is approaching fast on September 29th, 2018.  We hold this event in September for one reason… to raise awareness for pediatric cancer awareness month and push YOU to take action.  Last year we had almost 3,000 participants and raised close to $380,000!   This event was started in honor of one girl’s fight against neuroblastoma and we love to see how it continues to grow each year in her honor.  The proceeds from this event support our foundation’s commitment to establish the Isabella Santos Foundation Rare & Solid Tumor Program at Levine Children’s Hospital, a $5 million commitment.

Every year our Auction Committee works tooth on one of our most coveted race day activities, the ISF Auction & Raffle.  We pride ourselves in creating one of the best ISF Auction & Raffles in the city.  But we can’t do it without our generous supporters and businesses.  Are you willing to help us create a must-have package?

Isabella and her American Girl Doll

Isabella didn’t go many places without her American Girl dolls… even at the hospital receiving blood products as pictured here! Isabella spent hours dressing her dolls and picking out their outfits.  They were her comfort items during childhood cancer treatments.

For today’s Wish Wednesday ask we are requesting all things American Girl for our upcoming auction at our 11th Annual 5k/10k For Kids Cancer event. Anything American Girl is appreciated: gift cards, dolls, outfits and accessories. These dolls brought so much joy to Isabella, help us bring joy to another little girl in her honor!

Mail to:

Melanie Miller/ISF Auction Chair
9930 Hazelview Drive
Charlotte 28277

MIBG Construction Update #4, Levine Children’s Hospital

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MIBG Therapy Room, Patient/parent room dividing lead brick wall

Look at all the lead work that has been done since our site visit on the new ISF MIBG therapy suite at Levine Children’s Hospital…

  • Lead brick walls installed
  • Lead window frame and door frames installed
  • Lead ceiling installed
  • Reinstalling overhead utilities.

MIBG Therapy Program Lead, Dawn, shared with us that a Pediatric Grand Rounds (accredited healthcare eduction) is being held on MIBG therapy and immunotherapy tomorrow.  Many residents and other medical staff have been very inquisitive about the new room and therapy it will offer.  Dawn and Dr. Oesterheld are currently working on the formal education for residents and hospitalists that will take place in the coming months.

Signed MIBG lead brick

We are excited to learn that the lead brick that was signed at the the March 9th MIBG celebration will be placed in the wall in the coming weeks.  On this day we were joined on by our 3 Wish Circle Members and sponsors who helped us make this room a reality.  What was also special, doctors and nurses who treated Isabella during her time at Levine Children’s Hospital were  in attendance. Everyone in attendance signed a piece of Levine history as the lead brick will become part of the suite during construction.

Almost $14,000 has been raised by our ISF MIBG Ambassadors.  Want to be part of providing comfortable care for the kids/families that go through MIBG Treatment?  Our new MIBG Ambassador Program gives you the flexibility of raising $5,000 the way you want to raise it… 100% of funds raised through this program will be distributed very specifically through our LCH partnership with this very targeted MIBG purpose. {You do not have to be located in Charlotte to participate, contact Tia for details}

Learn more about MIBG Therapy and what’s coming to Levine Children’s Hospital.

 

MIBG Therapy Room, Patient Room Corridor Framing

 

MIBG Therapy Room, Patient Room Viewing Window