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Finding Hope Through Research: Christian’s Leukemia Journey

Posted on by Maryalice Skutnik

Finding Hope Through Research: Christian’s Leukemia Journey

At two years old, Christian Vinci was always trying to keep up. The youngest among his cousins, he was active, adventurous and happiest playing alongside his older brother, Patrick. Summer was meant for playing, and a few bruises on Christian’s legs were nothing out of the ordinary.

Until Christian stopped wanting to play.

A sickness lingered. Low-grade fevers continued. One illness seemed to follow another. Adam and Carolyn Vinci tried to find an explanation, but their energetic little boy simply wasn’t himself.

“We knew something was very wrong,” Carolyn said. “It was peak summer activities, and he didn’t want to do anything.”

Soon, the Vincis were in an emergency room hearing a word they never expected to be associated with their two-year-old son: leukemia.

“It was like an out-of-body experience,” Carolyn said. “The pain is insurmountable.”

A young boy with short hair rests his head on a woman’s shoulder, looking thoughtful—a quiet moment during Christian’s Leukemia Journey. Colorful children’s artwork is displayed on the wall in the background.
A woman kisses a baby on the forehead while holding them, standing in front of a window decorated with colorful children’s artwork—a tender moment captured as part of Christian’s Leukemia Journey.

Finding Strength

A man holds hands with a young child lying in a hospital bed, covered with a blanket. The child has medical wires attached and appears to be resting. The setting is a hospital room with medical equipment visible, capturing a tender moment during Christian’s Leukemia Journey.

Life changed instantly.

At home, Adam and Carolyn had a four-year-old and a newborn just two weeks old. In the hospital, Christian was undergoing tests and procedures he couldn’t understand. Through it all, he looked to his parents.

“He’s looking at us for strength,” Carolyn said. “You have to muster up anything to just keep marching ahead.”

For Adam, watching his son face cancer was unlike anything he had experienced.

“When it’s your child, you’d do anything to swap places with him,” he said.

Days became a series of hospital visits, shift changes and nights spent apart. Patrick began asking Carolyn the same question each morning: “Where am I going today?”

The simple question broke her heart.

“I don’t think people realize how amazing it is to be under one roof,” Carolyn said.


Bringing Christian Home

A woman smiles holding a baby in a carrier next to a young child in a hockey arena, capturing a moment from Christian’s Leukemia Journey. The child wears a beanie and hockey shirt as they enjoy time together, with the arena’s ice rink and seating visible in the background.
A young boy on Christian’s Leukemia Journey stands in a hospital room, a medical port visible on his chest as he holds a stuffed toy. Medical equipment and toys are visible in the background.

During treatment at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Christian’s care team introduced the family to a clinical trial.

At first, Adam and Carolyn were scared of the unknown. But with guidance from Christian’s care team, they began to understand how research had shaped the treatments available to their son — and how his experience could help children in the future.

Through the clinical trial, Christian received an additional round of immunotherapy using a small portable infusion pump and a backpack.  Rather than spending another month confined to a hospital room, he was able to continue treatment from home—running around the house, playing with his brother and doing the things he loved while the medication quietly infused in the background.
Slowly, the Vincis began to see their adventurous little boy again.

“He was feeling so good. His hair was growing back,” Carolyn said. “We were chasing him, trying to hold his backpack.”

Christian could play with Patrick. He could rebuild his strength. The Vinci family could be together under one roof.

“His spirits were up,” Carolyn said. “Being able to play really helped with treatment.”

For Adam and Carolyn, research gave their family something invaluable: more time together.

“Knowing that Christian will help other kids is rewarding,” Carolyn said. “We’re so lucky that we can be part of this team and clinical trial so that we can add to research.”

Through the Courage of Carly Fund, pediatric cancer research at Roswell Park continues to create more possibilities for children like Christian — and more moments at home, simply being kids.

How Donations Fuel Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs

Courage of Carly’s First IceCycle Team

Posted on by Maryalice Skutnik

Courage of Carly's First IceCycle Team

Every rider who takes part in IceCycle has a reason for showing up.

Some ride in honor of someone they love. Some ride in memory. Some ride to give back after experiencing cancer up close. No matter the reason, IceCycle brings together a community of people united by purpose, all while raising critical funds for Roswell Park.

This year, Courage of Carly had its own IceCycle team, with funds designated specifically for childhood cancer research and patient programming. The team roster included Courage of Carly moms, Rebecca Lindquist, Denisa Klump and Rachel Wall. For each of them, the ride was a meaningful way to support the mission while honoring their own family’s journey.

A sign on a bicycle reads, “I ride for: my daughter” with a small heart drawn below, capturing the spirit of the Courage of Carly’s First IceCycle. The bike frame is dark, and part of a person in pink leggings is visible in the background.

Rebecca Lindquist

A woman with long brown hair holds a smiling young boy in a camo jacket and gray pants. They stand in front of a wall displaying various siding samples in a store, celebrating the Courage of Carly’s First IceCycle. The boy proudly holds an orange and blue water bottle.

For Rebecca, that journey began when her five-year-old son Jaxson was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

“Our lives changed overnight,” Rebecca remembered. “Watching him go through treatments and still be so brave every single day is something that inspires me constantly.”

Participating in IceCycle gave her an outlet to make a difference in a tangible way.

“As a parent, you feel helpless sometimes, and participating in IceCycle is a way for me to turn those feelings into action,” she said. “It’s my way of fighting alongside him and helping raise money for the research and care that kids like my son depend on.”

For Rebecca, supporting pediatric cancer research is about the future she wants for both her son and other families going through the same experience.

“Supporting childhood cancer research means hope,” Rebecca said. “All you want is for your child to be healthy and have the chance to grow up and live a full life.”

Denisa Klump

This was Denisa’s first year participating in IceCycle, and it was an experience she will never forget.

“Oh my goodness it was such an incredible experience to be a part of!” Denisa said.

Her daughter Everly was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 when she was just five years old, and Denisa said riding on the Courage of Carly team felt like a meaningful way to give back.

“I’ll never be able to repay Roswell Park for all they did to help her beat cancer, but I thought this was my way of paying it forward,” she said. “Having seen firsthand how research-funded therapies saved my daughter, I feel compelled to ensure others have those same opportunities available.”

Courage of Carly helped to support their family during a very difficult time while navigating Everly’s battle with cancer.

“They gave us so many opportunities to make memories and have a little sense of ‘normalcy’ during a very stressful time,” Denisa said.

One moment stands out most: Everly’s bell ringing.

“The Courage of Carly team was there to celebrate our daughter ringing the bell,” she said. “They made such a huge milestone moment even more special for her and really personalized to her.”

A smiling child with glasses and no hair hugs an adult woman with curly hair and sunglasses on her head. Both are wearing black shirts and appear happy together, capturing the joyful spirit at Courage of Carly’s First IceCycle.

Rachel Wall

A woman and a child smile in a room, both wearing blue sports shirts and colorful pants, proudly displaying their excitement for the Courage of Carly’s First IceCycle. Behind them is a white door, wall decor with antlers, and a fox pelt mounted on the wall.
A woman smiles while a young boy in a green Minecraft shirt—celebrating the Courage of Carly’s First IceCycle—sticks out his tongue and holds a green straw, both enjoying a sunny day outdoors.

Rachel rode with her son Jackson in mind.

After Jackson was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2024, IceCycle became one more way for Rachel to support the community that has supported her family.

“It was amazing,” Rachel said. “It’s just wonderful to see everybody that can come together and ride for themselves or for loved ones.”

Rachel said joining the Courage of Carly team was an easy decision.

“When they gave me the opportunity to ride with them, I just was like, sign me up,” she said.

Support like this means everything to kids and families going through treatment.

“They do so many things,” Rachel said. “And these kids need that. They just need days out, and days to do things, and experiences.”

One of the most meaningful parts of the ride was being able to look up and see Jackson cheering her on.

“It was so great,” she reflected. “Just looking up, and I could see them waving and cheering, and it was fun to know that somebody’s cheering me on.”

Every Ride Matters

IceCycle is powered by people who all have their own reasons for riding, and that shared sense of purpose is what makes this event so meaningful year after year.

For Rebecca, Denisa and Rachel, being part of the Courage of Carly team and allocating the funds raised from their ride to the pediatric program gave them a way to turn their experiences into action. Together, the Courage of Carly IceCycle team raised over $7,000 to help support crucial pediatric cancer research and pediatric programs and events.

They rode to give back. They rode to support other families. And they rode to help create more hope for every child facing pediatric cancer.

Learn more about IceCycle Buffalo

How Donations Fuel Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs

Courage of Carly’s Dynamic Duo

Posted on by Maryalice Skutnik

Courage of Carly's Dynamic Duo

When you walk into the Roswell Park pediatric wing, you can feel it immediately — the support, the comfort, the intentional kindness. It’s the kind of energy you can’t fake. And at the center of it are two women whose journeys couldn’t be more different, yet somehow align perfectly: Megan Crawford, the Pediatric & Young Adult Program Manager, and Madison Auten, the Diversionary Program Coordinator.

They work to guide families through one of the hardest chapters of their lives, when a child is diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder. Together they wear many hats, but at the center of what they do, they find the calm in the chaos, the joy in the heaviness. They’re people who show up, every single time.

A woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a black blazer over a beige top, smiles while standing in a bright hallway with large windows in the background, embodying the spirit of the Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo.
A woman with long brown hair and a sleeveless beige dress smiles while standing in a bright, modern hallway with large windows, embodying the strength and positivity of a true Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo.

Finding Their Way

Three smiling women stand together indoors. The person in the middle, with a bald head and hoop earrings, wears a “Sophia Strong” shirt, embodying the spirit of the Courage of Carly. The women on either side have long brown hair and wear black jackets and ID badges, showcasing a dynamic duo united in support and strength.
Two women in yellow, embodying the spirit of the Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo, stand on grass beside an illuminated “ONE GOLD” sign, surrounded by gold and yellow balloons. Tents and city buildings are visible in the background under a clear sky.

Auten’s connection to the program began long before she joined the staff.

“When I was eight years old, my family and I volunteered at Carly’s Crossing,” Auten said. “A few years later I started raising money to participate in the swim. That’s how I first heard about Carly’s Club.”

She later returned to volunteer at the Courage of Carly holiday party, wrap gifts and assist at events. Those experiences shaped her interest in a career rooted in purpose.

“I knew I wanted to do something meaningful and make real connections with families,” Auten said. “I didn’t want a typical 9-to-5.”

Crawford’s path was less direct but equally driven by a desire to support others.

“My degree is actually in exercise science, so nothing at all related to what we do,” Crawford laughed. “I worked at Disney World for a bit, then came home and got involved in youth programming. Those experiences showed me how powerful it can be to create magical moments for children, something that continues to shape the work I do today.”

A personal connection also influenced her direction.

“One of my dear friends in high school was diagnosed with brain cancer,” Crawford said. “That was my first real exposure to childhood cancer. She passed away, and I learned a lot about advocacy and the need for research. It’s meaningful to carry on her legacy in the work I do.”

Growing the Program

Crawford has watched the Courage of Carly Fund evolve significantly since she started in 2018.

“When I first started, we had just launched our joint venture with Oishei Children’s Hospital,” she said. “Now we’ve built a community for patients with sickle cell disease, thalassemia and other blood disorders.”

The program is continually adapted based on patient needs, trends and family feedback.

“We try to figure out what works best for different age groups,” Auten said. “If an event shines, we bring it back. If it doesn’t, we revamp it or let it go. Our goal is always to help families make connections with others who understand their journey.”

The patient population shifts often, which requires constant re-evaluation of programming.

“Our population ebbs and flows,” Crawford said. “We’ve had waves of pre-K girls, then pre-K boys, then high school boys and so on. Times change, needs change and the program has to evolve with that.”

Two adults and three young girls smile at the camera indoors, proudly showcasing their Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo spirit. The girls, dressed in colorful outfits and holding balloons, stand with the adults near a wall adorned with wooden panels and plaques.

Lasting Impact

Four people gather outdoors; one woman in a tan hat gently holds and pets a small animal, while another woman in a sleeveless blue dress—part of the Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo—smiles and reaches to touch it. The group looks happy and engaged.
Three people smiling and posing together, with the person in the middle holding a decorated cake that says “Congratulations Tristen.” A bell and a motivational quote celebrating the Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo are visible on the wall behind them.
A woman in a patterned dress hands a white gift bag with colorful items to another woman in green at an indoor gathering, celebrating the spirit of the Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo. Other people are seated and mingling in the background.

For Auten, the most rewarding moments come from following families through their full treatment journey.

“I’ve now seen kids ring the bell who started treatment when I first began working here,” Auten said. “Watching their journey from the start to where they are now is huge.”

Crawford has seen many of the same transformations over her seven years with the program.

“It’s remarkable to watch kids go from being diagnosed in pre-K to becoming middle schoolers,” Crawford said. “We even have young adults now in med school or going into other allied health professions because of what they experienced.”

Those successes are powerful. But the difficult moments are equally defining.

“It’s hard to boil it down to one experience,” Crawford said. “But when we don’t have those victories — when families experience the absolute lowest moments — it reinforces why this work matters. It reignites the passion to advocate for better research, better cures and better awareness.”

Nothing compares to the strength they see in patients and their families everyday.

“Me getting out of bed in the morning is small potatoes compared to what these kids go through day in and day out,” Auten said.

Defining Courage

Auten sees courage in the way families keep moving forward.

“Courage is taking what you’re given and going with it day in and day out,” she said. “Even on the tough days.”

Crawford expressed a similar outlook.

“Courage is showing up, whatever that means for you,” she said. “Every day you show up is a victory.”

Both staff members look to the families they serve for inspiration.

“I learn from these families every day,” Crawford said. “They’re dealt the toughest cards in life, yet they carry it with grace. You don’t have to know everything to be there for someone — you just have to be present.”

Crawford also expressed deep reverence for the roots of the Courage of Carly Fund.

“I feel an immense responsibility and honor in carrying on Carly’s legacy,” she said. “If she were here today, she would be giving her all for everyone who walks through those doors. You owe it all to one little girl with courage over 25 years ago.”

Crawford and Auten bring different strengths to their roles, but share a unified mission: to create joy, comfort and connection for families navigating pediatric cancer and blood disorders.

Their partnership reflects the heart of the Courage of Carly Fund, an organization built on resilience, hope and everyday courage.

Two women, known as the Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo, stand behind a table with brochures and lanyards. The table is covered with a blue cloth displaying “Courage of Carly Fund” and “Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.” A bench and metal fence are visible in the background.
A smiling child with a bald head and a yellow skirt dances with a woman in a pink dress—together, they embody the spirit of the Courage of Carly Dynamic Duo—while two other women look on, smiling in a brightly lit room.

Carly's Story