Our Founder

Regina Ellis and her family founded Children’s Cancer Association in 1995 after her five-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died of cancer. Along with other parents, pioneers, and dreamers, she set out to create something extraordinary: an organization with a new vision for what pediatric cancer support services might look like.

As JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, has grown so has Regina’s belief that Joy changes lives, fuels innovation, and fosters creativity. She speaks nationally on the Joy Effect, inspiring companies and organizations like Nike, Keller Williams, the National Speakers Association, PSFK, and Women in Financial Services. In 2015, Regina was a featured speaker at TEDx Portland with over 3,000 attendees.