Latest news with #childhoodCancer
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Andy's Army 2025: Lemonade stand in Sewell raises money for a cure for cancer
SEWELL, N.J. - Andy's Army set up a lemonade stand in Sewell, New Jersey to raise money for a cure for cancer. What we know On Sudnay, Andy Fee and his family set up the lemonade stand in partnership with the well-known Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. Andy was diagnosed with neuroblastoma four and a half years ago at the age of nine-months-old. Andy's father, Mike Fee, described that moment, saying, "It was an absolute whirlwind, you never think it would happen to you. Thankfully, we are in Philadelphia we have Children's Hospital of Philadelphia right in our backyard so, that was our first stop, to go to CHOP to understand what our treatment options were, then work out a plan and fight it as hard as we can". Mike said the fight wasn't easy, especially when doctors found an additional condition after Andy's initial diagnosis. "He had a secondary condition called Opsoclonus-Myoclonus-Ataxia Syndrome (OMAS) which basically your immune system attacks your nervous system so he lost the ability to walk, crawl, and talk. All the things Andy is now able to do, and in order to give back, he is selling lemonade and raffle tickets to try and support those like him. "Being local in the area we always heard about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, we always knew about Alex, this is where we wanted to put our effort into helping other kids with cancer and hopefully find a cure one day for all cancers," said Mike. The family has a set a goal to raise $5,000. If you would like to donate online, you can at
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
How the annual Great Chefs Event in Philadelphia aims to "really change the world"
Dozens of renowned chefs from across the country will gather this weekend at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia for the Great Chefs Event, a culinary celebration benefiting the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, which funds cutting-edge research and supports families affected by childhood cancer. Among the star-studded lineup is Chef Nok Suntaranon of Kalaya, whose soulful Southern Thai dishes add both flavor and feeling to the cause. "We can really change the world by doing good," Suntaranon said. "We just focus on one thing — to honor Alex and her dream." The Great Chefs Event has become a signature moment on Philadelphia's culinary calendar, blending gourmet plates with a powerful purpose. More than 40 chefs donate their time, ingredients and talent to raise funds that directly support pediatric cancer research and support programs for families in treatment. Alexandra "Alex" Scott started Alex's Lemonade Stand after she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at just 4 years old. Her goal: Raise money to find cures for children with cancer. By the time Alex died at the age of 8, she had raised more than $1 million. Her legacy lives on through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, and the Great Chefs Event that's now in its 18th year. Now, her legacy lives on through events like these, where every bite tells a story and every donation brings researchers one step closer to a cure. In the past, Great Chefs has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support pediatric cancer research and families in need. The event is sold out, but you can still make a donation to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I had headaches my whole life before a brain tumour was found – a change in my symptoms finally led to a diagnosis
NIAMH Rose Mulheron had experienced headaches since she was a child. It wasn't until years later, when other symptoms she initially mistook for flu appeared, that her brain tumour was discovered. 4 The 26-year-old's headaches were "never taken seriously" and were brushed off as school stress or puberty when she went to see her doctor. A few weeks before her diagnosis, at the age of 14, Niamh suffered with extreme exhaustion and would sleep for more than 12 hours a day - putting the symptom down to flu. But when she woke up blind two weeks later, she knew something wasn't right and she rushed to Western Infirmary Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, where a CT scan revealed she had a mass on her brain. She then had an emergency surgery at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to remove the tumour, followed by a biopsy, which revealed she had a benign ganglioglioma - a rare brain tumour. Since having the tumour removed, Niamh has been left with limited peripheral vision - which she said is a constant reminder of her diagnosis but she refuses to let it hold her back. Niamh, a child care practitioner, from Glasgow, Scotland, said: "After I was diagnosed, we found out that the tumour was pressing on my optic nerve, which is why I went blind before my diagnosis. "That caused a lot of damage to my eyes, I have no peripheral vision at all. "That is why I have to wear glasses, but they don't really help because of the damage the tumour has caused. "It has affected me a lot, it is something that reminds me of everything that happened. "As I have no peripheral vision at all, I am constantly on edge because I can't see properly. Tropical virus turned out ot be brain tumour In the weeks leading up to her diagnosis, alongside extreme tiredness, Niamh began vomiting while trying to eat food, and also put this down to the flu. Niamh said: "I started having headaches for years before I was diagnosed with a tumour. "It was a day-to-day occurrence that I had, a couple of weeks before my diagnosis, I was sleeping constantly. "The headaches started to intensify, I would eat and be sick when I was digesting food - I thought I had caught a bug." 'It felt like my whole world and life was crumbling' In February 2013, Niamh went to bed and woke up the next day with blurred vision, so her mum, Christine, 55, took her to the GP, who recommended she go to A&E. When she got there, Niamh had a CT scan which revealed a mass on the brain and she was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for emergency surgery to remove the tumour. Niamh said: "Looking back on when I first got diagnosed, I honestly felt like my whole world and life was crumbling. "Although I was only 14, my mind went into overdrive at all the possible outcomes I could be facing, and that stuck with me for years. "It was years later when I did actually realise what had happened to me, and that was pretty difficult, because it felt that I had to live it all over again each time I was coming to terms with it properly." The emergency surgery was successful, and doctors were able to remove all the tumour - which was found to be bengin - and Niamh was told she didn't need chemo or radiotherapy. 4 4 The biopsy revealed that Niamh had a ganglioglioma - a rare brain tumour composed of both neuronal and glial cells. Niamh then had two further surgeries one to remove a bone flap when she got an infection and another to remove a second tumour that started growing in her brain. Niamh said: "Luckily for me, after those three surgeries, I was finished. "I didn't need chemotherapy or radiotherapy. At the time, I would go for MRI scans every three months for a year, and now I get a scan once a year. "I feel so much anxiety when I have a scan coming up, even going into the MRI machine, I feel really anxious thinking they might pick something up again." The most common symptoms of a brain tumour More than 12,000 Brits are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year — of which around half are cancerous — with 5,300 losing their lives. The disease is the most deadly cancer in children and adults aged under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity. Brain tumours reduce life expectancies by an average of 27 years, with just 12 per cent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis. There are two main types, with non-cancerous benign tumours growing more slowly and being less likely to return after treatment. Cancerous malignant brain tumours can either start in the brain or spread there from elsewhere in the body and are more likely to return. Brain tumours can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS. They can also lead to changes in personality weakness or paralysis on one side of the problem and problems with speech or vision. The nine most common symptoms are: Headaches Seizures Feeling sick Being sick Memory problems Change in personality Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body Vision problems Speech problems If you are suffering any of these symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the ones you normally get, you should visit your GP. Source: NHS Niamh is now calling for more mental health support for people recovering from brain tumours. She is still living with the effects of her tumour after it damaged her optic nerve - meaning her vision is impacted - leaving her with no peripheral vision. She said: "I wish support services, such as those offered by The Brain Tumour Charity, had been flagged up when I was diagnosed and when I really needed them. "It would have made a massive difference to my life. "The charity's digital channels, especially its closed Facebook groups, provide a great place to read about other people's experiences and connect with people who know what this type of diagnosis is like. "I was told there was no one or no services that could help me deal with my diagnosis so that was difficult, but then finding the charity has made a massive difference to me. "Getting to chat to others, read other people's stories, have that support, it really does make a difference, and that is important. The Brain Tumour Charity has awarded funding to researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London who are developing a national approach to ensure young people living with the effects of a brain tumour can reach their full potential at school.
New York Times
30-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
A Girl Struggles to Survive Her Country's War and Her Own
As a police officer helped her don child-size body armor and an orange helmet, Margaryta Karpova, 12 years old, stood quiet amid the roars and shock waves of heavy shelling. Russian forces had reached less than a mile from her mostly abandoned village in eastern Ukraine. She held back tears, preparing to leave her home, her tiny village, Novoolenivka, and her father, who stayed to watch over the house. In that moment last fall, the goodbye with him felt terrifyingly final. She and her mother, Liudmyla Karpova, dashed to an armored car and joined more than a million civilians who have fled Ukraine's Donetsk region since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. But relocation brought them no relief. After they reached temporary housing in western Ukraine, Margaryta began to complain of pain. Doctors soon found she had cancer, a rare and aggressive form called rhabdomyosarcoma that mostly affects children. Now, in Kyiv, the capital, she fights a second, more personal war, against a disease that is consuming her body as the war continues to consume her country. 'As I tell everyone, life has stopped,' her mother said. 'The only thing that matters now is saving my child's life.' They were able to reunite with Margaryta's father, and Kyiv offers the care she needs, despite the destruction last July of Ukraine's largest children's hospital and pediatric cancer center, in the heart of the city, by a Russian missile. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Khaleej Times
25-05-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Bin Hajar is first Emirati to conquer Great Wall Marathon for a cause close to his heart
When Abdulla Bin Hajar Al Shehhi crossed the finish line at the Great Wall Marathon, one of the most punishing in long-distance running. he wasn't thinking about the pain or the historic feat. He was thinking about the children he was running for—young cancer patients waging battles far greater than his own. The Emirati endurance runner, an engineer by day, became the first athlete from the UAE to complete the gruelling race, known for its punishing terrain and more than 5,000 stone steps winding through one of the world's most iconic landmarks. 'Running the Great Wall Marathon wasn't about chasing a personal record or proving something to myself,' he said. 'It was about standing in solidarity with children who wake up every day to fight battles far tougher than any race. With every step, I wanted to carry their strength, their courage—and let them know they're not alone.' Motivated by the courage of young cancer patients, Abdulla partnered with Al Jalila Foundation, a non-profit healthcare organization established in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and YallaGive to launch a fundraising and awareness campaign supporting childhood cancer research and treatment. His participation in the race, held near Tianjin in northeastern China, helped spotlight a cause that transcends sport. The Great Wall Marathon is more a test of resilience than speed and Abdulla embraced the challenge not as a competitor, but as a messenger. 'Every marathon has its story,' he says. 'This one was about hope, not finish times.' A Decade-Long Journey of Transformation Abdulla's path to international marathons began over a decade ago, in his home emirate of Ras Al Khaimah where he set out on a personal mission to lose weight. Then weighing nearly 100 kilograms, he struggled to stay on a treadmill for more than a few minutes. But something shifted in 2014. During one of his walks, a marathon advertisement caught his eye. Curious and inspired, he signed up for his first race in Dubai. Crossing the finish line was just the beginning. Since then, Abdullah has completed 15 marathons across the globe—including all six of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors. In April, he ran the Boston Marathon, becoming the first Emirati to earn the coveted Six Star Finisher Medal. Yet despite these accolades, Abdulla is quick to downplay the medals and milestones. Raising Awareness, Inspiring Others 'It's not about collecting achievements,' he said. 'It's about using sport to give back—to raise awareness and hopefully, inspire others.' Balancing his athletic goals with a demanding career hasn't been easy. As an engineer at ADNOC, Abdulla spends two weeks each month working 12-hour shifts on a remote island. He often trains by running laps around the island before or after work. Abdulla's ambitions stretch far beyond the Wall—or even the continent. He dreams of running a marathon on every continent and one day seeing a race that unites all the Gulf nations. But his message remains grounded. 'Set goals. Stick to them. Keep going, even when it gets tough,' he said. For children facing cancer, those words carry more than motivational weight—they're a lifeline. And for Abdulla, that's reason enough to keep running.
