Thirty Quintessential JoyRx Mentorship Stories
This article is part of our 30 on 30 series, commemorating 30 years of JoyRx in 2025. This month, we’re highlighting 30 stories of impact from JoyRx Mentorship. As part of our 30th anniversary, we're doing a 100 Mentorship Match Challenge - learn more and share your support here. JoyRx Mentorship celebrates the power of friendship to help seriously ill children feel joy again with the kindness of their mentors who inspire friendship and distraction.
Since 1999, the starting year of JoyRx Mentorship, we’ve served thousands of children, matching them with caring mentors who help them during trying hospitalizations and extended treatments.
In its twenty-five years as a program, JoyRx Mentorship has demonstrated the importance of friendship.
Here are thirty stories about JoyRx Mentorship that highlight the defining qualities of this unique volunteer-based program:
Meet the inspiring young man who, after receiving a cancer diagnosis as a teenager and finding joy with his own mentor, was inspired to become a JoyRx Mentor for other kids and pursue a career helping pediatric patients.
Learn more about the motivations to be a mentor through the eyes of one of our mentors: cancer survivor and all-around awesome human Tresa.
Last year, we reached a major milestone of supporting over 100 matches in a single year. And we’re still growing!
What’s cooler than having a former Miss Oregon as your JoyRx Mentor? According to mentor Sophia, it’s becoming a mentor to an awesome girl named Hadley. Their friendship is truly a special one.
Olivia was served by JoyRx Music and JoyRx Nautre, but her connection with her JoyRx Mentorship match Alyssa was an essential part of her care.
We know that friendship is an important part of a child’s life. But research shows that it’s an essential part of our health — especially for seriously ill children.
Superstar mentor Ed has volunteered with us since 2011, and in that time, he’s learned some important lessons about friendship, connection, and joy.
JoyRx-served child Myka and JoyRx mentor Aleks have a special friendship, bonding over shared interests and commonalities.
JoyRx mentor Terri is an important part of Landon’s day and helped this amazing little boy not feel so scared for his chemo appointments.
David is an active, bright 13-year-old with a passion for science, forging a strong friendship with his JoyRx Mentor through their joint interests.
Macky is a bubbly 12-year-old who loves animals (especially monkeys!) and studying math. Meeting his JoyRx Mentor helped him to feel joy again despite the stress of hospitalization.
When Bertha first found out her son, Emet, had leukemia, she was speechless. Through the devastating diagnosis, though, Emet was able to find strength, hope, and joy through his relationship with JoyRx Mentorship.
Madelynn is a sweet, friendly five-year-old who loves arts and crafts, Legos, and playing outside. That’s the perfect list of activities to enjoy with her JoyRx Mentor!
Despite all the ups and downs of his life, Xay has always had reason to smile thanks to his supportive family and his connection with his JoyRx Mentor.
In December 2019, just before the holidays, Wesley was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer. But there was still joy on the horizon thanks, in part, to JoyRx Mentorship.
For the past eight years, David’s had a friend in his corner to help him through long days in the hospital — his JoyRx mentor, Jana.
Olivia and Kimberlee are kindred spirits despite being years apart in age. They love art, dancing, and share a passion for the lemonade from McMenamins. They’ve also been through a lot together; for seven years, Kimberlee was Olivia’s JoyRx mentor.
When Elijah was diagnosed with brain cancer, finding joy seemed an impossible task for him and his family. Enter: JoyRx Mentorship!
From the start, Phoenix was a lesson in finding the bright spots amongst seemingly insurmountable challenges, including a cancer diagnosis. With the support of JoyRx and his healthcare team, Phoenix was able to find joy even during really difficult times.
Kira is a bright and thoughtful young lady with a great sense of humor and obvious love for her family. Part of that family is definitely her JoyRx mentor who she soon viewed as like a sister to her.
When young Heaven was diagnosed with cancer, her mother didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, JoyRx Mentorship could offer some respite during such a tumultuous time.
Brutally honest and openly passionate, former JoyRx mentor George doesn’t hold back when talking about the people he loves. His gregarious personality can be jarring to some, but he has the knack for making everyone feel like a close friend, and it’s clear that he is genuinely kind and caring.
The very first thing everyone notices about Emme is her infectious giggle. Her laughter is given freely, and she jokes with everyone she meets as if they were good friends. She’s been known to break out in song spontaneously and doesn’t even care if she knows the words. It’s unsurprising that such a special girl would have a special connection with her JoyRx mentor.
Catlin is easy-going, an all-around sports fan and always ready to make a joke. He’s also a police officer, serving the area of West Linn. His job requires him to face intense situations, and he often sees people during their lowest moments. Despite so much experience, nothing prepared Catlin for both the joys and sorrows of being a JoyRx mentor.
Wendy is an enthusiastic volunteer for JoyRx Mentorship. When she retired in 2014, volunteering was a priority, and working directly with people facing cancer was near and dear to her heart.
When football player and high school senior D.J. was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he didn’t know what to do. Through all the upheaval, though, he was able to find a lifelong friend in his JoyRx mentor.
When Bill Grange walks into JoyRx, he greets just about everyone in the office on a first-name basis. He’s easy-going, understanding, and a great conversationalist. He loves his job as a Portland realtor and finds joy in golfing, music, gardening, and his family. He’s also a JoyRx mentor extraordinaire!
It’s said William Shakespeare first penned the phrase “I will wear my heart upon my sleeve,” but Eileen Shattuck took it to the next level when she tattooed JoyRx’s heart logo on her arm. We are incredibly grateful to Eileen for her support of JoyRx and inspired to know someone who has so much love and dedication for a cause that we all hold close to our hearts. Today, we’re delighted that Eileen is one of our JoyRx staff members, too!
JoyRx Mentor Lisa is quick to share just how lucky she feels to be matched with five-year-old Annabel through the JoyRx Mentorship program.
There are some friendships that will last a lifetime, and some JoyRx Mentorship matches remain close friends even after “graduation.” Here are just a couple of those powerful stories.
As part of our 30th Anniversary, we invite community members to join us for the 100 Match Challenge – a special campaign to support and fund JoyRx Mentorship matches. You can learn more about how to get involved here.
Learn more about JoyRx’s thirty years of impact by visiting our anniversary page.