Eight-year-old Anthony is making a difference this September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by walking in honor of children like him who have been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Anthony’s journey with a pediatric brain tumor started when he was only 5 months old when he was diagnosed with a choroid plexus papilloma brain tumor. He was an extremely happy and smiley child. When his joyful personality suddenly changed, his parents knew something was wrong.
The change in his personality is what alerted his parents to the idea that he was suffering and his continued inability to smile forced his parents to become fierce advocates, which led to his diagnosis.
Eight years later, Anthony is now tumor-free and back to his happy, smiley self. Although there are difficult moments of survivorship, Anthony’s outlook on life carries his family through difficult times. He sincerely likes to help people and frequently engages in community activities that involve giving back to or helping those in need.
Anthony’s own struggles make him empathetic to others. He has been around a lot of doctors, nurses, therapists, and specialists who have molded him to have a unique compassion for others who need some extra cheer.
This month Anthony and his family are participating in our Starry Night Community’s 51–Mile Walk Challenge. Anthony has dedicated many of his walks to individuals at different points of their journey and those who have supported him along the way.
“White lanterns are for everyone who supported us like my doctors, therapist, and teachers, my mom and dad, and all of you,” said Anthony during one of his walks.
Children with brain cancer can’t wait another week, another day, another minute for your support. When you donate to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, you help fund life-changing research and provide families with the resources and support they need. Don’t let pediatric brain cancer steal another future.
Through the month of September, he has taken every opportunity to get in mileage for the challenge. Even on busy days when he was at the hospital or preparing for a baseball game, he took the time to go on a walk.
Anthony had others join him for some of his miles, including his forever friend and supporter, his Kindergarten teacher. Over 22 miles in, she joined him for a walk on the beach.
Every day is not easy, but Anthony pushed through in order to raise awareness and funds for a cause close to his heart.
“I am out walking on this rainy day. Not going to lie, I really didn’t want to walk today, but today I am walking for the Eternal Stars. Our family lights blue lanterns for Starry Night because they’re shining down from heaven,” said Anthony.
Anthony has already reached his goal of raising $800 in honor of being diagnosed eight years ago, but he will continue to walk and fundraise throughout the remainder of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Join our Starry Night Community’s 51–Mile Challenge on Facebook to walk alongside children, teens and survivors like Anthony and connect with other pediatric brain tumor families.
My brain tumor experience is something I think about every day of my life, but the outside world likes to erase that and pretend it didn’t happen. It’s too “taboo” or “uncomfortable.” So, this year, on the 7th anniversary of my surgery, I want to talk about it.
In June 2018, Valentina was diagnosed with a pediatric low-grade glioma with a BRAF mutation. At the time, she was only one year old. Surgery was not an option, so her family had two choices for treatment—traditional chemotherapy or an experimental treatment suitable for her type of mutation.
Combining her love for reading and desire to give back to help kids with brain tumors like her, Zoe created Books 4 Brains to raise money for pediatric brain cancer research. Join her upcoming Books 4 Brains read-a-thon and support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's research funding efforts.
The FDA has approved Day One Biopharmaceuticals’ OJEMDA (tovorafenib) for treating pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG), the most common brain tumor diagnosed in children. The availability of this first-of-its-kind treatment represents an important, long-awaited moment for many pLGG patients. It also marks a significant milestone in the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s efforts to accelerate new treatment options for all children with brain tumors.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) proudly announces an infusion of $1 million to help researchers, led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Drs. Pratiti (Mimi) Bandopadhayay and Rameen Beroukhim, launch a study into a novel therapeutic target and expand their research into overcoming treatment resistance and rebound growth.
