The Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) and MyMusicRx are pleased to announce the return of Bedstock, a life-changing, award-winning, online music festival where bands perform from bed as a show of solidarity with thousands of sick kids spending the holidays in hospital beds.

Over the last year, the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) has provided service to over 28,000 seriously ill children and their family members. Ruth Zuniga and Andy Soria, along with their little girl Sol, were one such family. Originally from Costa Rica, Andy and Ruth moved to the US to pursue their PhDs and had decided not to have children. However, their little “ray of sunshine,” Sol, had other plans.

At the Children’s Cancer Association, we’re breaking up with cancer and delivering transformative moments of joy to kids and families when they need it most.

Six-year-old Otto “Otto-bot” Stuckman knows a thing or two about heroes. He’s a huge fan of superheroes like the Green Lantern (“He’s got a power ring!”), The Flash (“He’s so fast!”), and Cyborg from Teen Titans (“He has a blaster!”).

On October 7^th, the very same night of CCA’s Wonderball: Age of Aquarius, 3000 miles away in Montclair, New Jersey, 12-year-old Ella Freund was kicking off an incredible CCA fundraiser of her own.

The Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) raised $1.4 million at our 17^th annual Wonderball gala on Saturday, Oct. 7 to fuel our mission of prescribing joy to seriously ill children and their families. CCA welcomed nearly 850 supporters to the Oregon Convention Center for an Age of Aquarius themed night inspired by the abundant love and optimism of the Woodstock era.

Growing up not too far from Oregon in Wenatchee, Washington, Dustin received his undergrad in Sport Management and master’s in Business Administration from Union University in Tennessee. Oregon was always on his radar and in 2012 he decided to move to Portland. When he’s not making people laugh in the office, Dustin enjoys snowboarding and hiking.

Emily “Emz” Pulis is a strong, independent 16-year-old with an infectious grin and a powerful hug. While she may seem quiet at first, it’s not long before she starts cracking jokes and looking for ways to make you smile.

Ayden is a bright, sweet 14-year-old, who has a deep passion for the Seattle Seahawks. When Ayden was one-year-old, he contracted Pneumococcal Bacteremia and sepsis. When his kidney did not recover, he was placed on dialysis for three years until he received a kidney transplant.

Our team at the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) continues to grow as we challenge ourselves to provide joy to more kids and teens facing serious illness each year. Recently, we hired six new staff members and welcomed three new interns. Of those six staff members, two are previous CCA volunteers. We’re so excited to have them on the team and know that their expertise will only help to strengthen our mission. Today, we would like to introduce you to Drew Peterson, Database Support.

A bright spot of musical talent in the hospitals is non-other than Emily Rico. With her degree in music and passion for working with children and teens, she never fails to bring a little more laughter and happiness to everyone she meets! We sat down with her to gain insight into what motivates her work and why expression through music is so important for children and teens in a hospital setting.

Sol is the perfect name for this two-year-old ray of sunshine. Sol loves petting farm animals, pretending to be a dinosaur, blowing bubbles with her Chemo Pal, Emily, and her rubber boots.

When the summer sun shines down on Oregon, the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) goes golfing. The seventh annual Golf for Joy event, led by Gay Davis, was yet again an incredible show of community. With the help of our generous partners, donors, and friends, the event has raised an astounding $300K and counting! Below are some of the highlights from the event.

Smiles, laughter, music, nature, kindness, and helping people, these are the things that bring Suzie Moll joy. A native Oregonian with a passion for giving back, Suzie has been involved with non-profits in her community since her 20s. She is an avid supporter of organizations bettering the lives of children and teens, so it’s no surprise that she took an interest in our JoyRx programs.

Irving is a cheerful young man who has crammed a whole lot of living into just 12 years. He’s a talented artist and an accomplished musician who plays guitar and accordion. He loves to listen to music, and when he can he loves to play basketball.

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 the Children’s Cancer Association’s heart logo on her arm. We are incredibly grateful to Eileen for her support of CCA and inspired to know someone who has so much love and dedication for a cause that we all hold close to our hearts.

The Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin™ (Caring Cabin) was built in 2006 with the love and dedication of friends, foundations, and businesses. The 2017 refresh was made possible through the incredible support of our Renovation Team, led by Anna Kimmel of Finley Grace Design, who contributed and inspired over $200K in goods and services to make this dream a reality.

On May 30th, the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) had the honor of presenting 12 incredible children and teens the title of CCA Hero at the Celebration of Courage. Their family, friends, and nurses gathered at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) to celebrate the joy and strength that these heroes embody. It was a night to remember!

The Children’s Cancer Association’s (CCA) “One Day. One Friend.” is an annual, online, peer-to-peer fundraiser that helps fund matches for our award-winning Chemo Pal Mentor Program. This program provides children and teens with a caring, trusted, adult friend to look forward to during treatments, and someone in their corner when they need it most. This year, 22 Chemo Pal Mentors and CCA volunteers shared personal stories about their experiences with CCA and asked their friends and family to support a cause they care deeply about. Together, they raised over $20,000!

What inspires Monse? The brilliant colors of the sunset. As a budding photographer, this creative 16-year-old likes capturing the pinks, purples, and blues that she loves so much. She also enjoys painting, exploring new places, and playing the ukulele.