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Tag: pediatric cancer stories

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

Celebrating Riley Greene’s Five-Year Victory

Posted on by Maryalice Skutnik

Celebrating Riley Greene’s Five-Year Victory

For 18-year-old Riley Greene and his family, March 25, 2026 marked far more than a date on the calendar. It marked five years of survivorship and a milestone that brought together family, friends and a community that has stood beside them since the very beginning.

Riley first rang the bell in 2021 after completing treatment for Burkitt lymphoma, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the moment was much quieter than what many families picture.

This year was different.

“I was so excited,” Riley said. “I felt like it was such an important moment and milestone.”

Just before his high school graduation party last summer, Riley faced another health scare and had to undergo surgery for a third time — not because of cancer, but because of adhesions from the surgery to remove his original tumor. The experience reminded him just how much he had overcome.

“Having all my family and friends there this time meant so much to me,” he said. “My heart was so full that day. I finally felt like a survivor.”

Facing cancer during COVID

Four people wearing purple “#rileyswarriors” shirts and masks stand together indoors, posing for a photo in celebration of Riley Greene’s Five-Year Victory. Two of them wear hats. There are plaques and bells mounted on the wall behind them.

Riley’s mother, Kellee Greene also reflected on the unique challenges of supporting her son through pediatric cancer treatment during the pandemic. Because of restrictions, only one caregiver could be with Riley at a time. His brother Aydin could not visit. Extended family could not gather around them. The experience was deeply isolating.

“It was 10 times harder because we couldn’t be in the hospital together,” she said. “Not having our support group through grandparents, aunts and uncles made everything so much more isolating and hard. You’re getting these awful diagnoses and there’s just no one there to lean on. As a mom, you just want to protect your kid, and you’re there alone.”

During that time, Courage of Carly made a meaningful difference.

“They would find little gift bags of crafts for you to do or a scavenger hunt or something to get the kids’ minds off of why they were there. They were crucial,” Kellee said.

When everything changed

Kellee remembers how their journey began: in July 2020, when Riley started having severe abdominal pain. At first, the family thought it might be a stomach bug. After a visit to the pediatrician and then a trip to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, what they thought was appendicitis quickly became something much more serious.

“They took him back for an ultrasound, and the doctor came in and said, ‘We can’t see his appendix,’” Kellee recalled. “So, they sent him for a CT scan. The doctor asked me to step out into the hallway, and right then and there, I just knew. I said, ‘I work at Roswell. You can tell me.’ That’s when he said, Riley has a tumor on his intestine. We think it’s Burkitt lymphoma.’”

They knew life would never be the same after hearing those words.

Riley went through eight rounds of inpatient chemotherapy over eight months. In February 2021, he was declared to be in remission and rang the Victory Bell for the first time the following month.

“I remember only having my mom, dad, brother, my grandparents and my aunts,” Riley said. “I could only have 10 people there. We had to wear masks, and it just felt kind of meh. I was so young and didn’t really fully understand all I went through, so it didn’t feel as meaningful or exciting as when I just rang for five years.”

A child wearing a mask and purple hoodie rings a gold bell mounted on a wall, looking up at it—celebrating their own Riley Greene’s Five-Year Victory. The wall has plaques and another bell, and the child stands next to a wooden chair.
A person stands with arms raised in triumph, smiling in front of a bell on the wall—celebrating Riley Greene’s Five-Year Victory. A man claps nearby and a congratulatory balloon is visible on the left.

A celebration that meant even more

That is part of what made this year’s celebration so emotional.

“There’s just no words,” Kellee said. “It just touched my heart. I know it touched his heart. It was incredible to see all the people we’ve met on this journey show up to be there for him. We were just so proud of him for everything that he’s been through, and there he was ringing that bell.”

For Riley, getting to celebrate this milestone surrounded by loved ones was a long awaited moment he will always cherish.

“Over the years, I attended more and more bell ringing’s of my friends and I saw how much love and support they had and I wanted that too,” he said. “It meant everything to me to celebrate this milestone with my family and friends. It’s a moment I won’t ever forget and it holds a very special place in my heart.”

Growing into an advocate

Over the past five years, Riley has grown from a young patient into a survivor determined to give back. Kellee says the experience changed him in lasting ways.

“He’s matured faster than he should because he’s been through so much,” she said. “He’s his own advocate now. He walks into doctors’ appointments and takes charge. He is an honors student at Hilbert College right now. He’s just matured and grown.”

One of the clearest examples of that growth is Riley’s Warriors, a nonprofit initiative born out of Riley’s own experience in the hospital.

During one hospital stay in December 2020, Riley was admitted with a neutropenic fever just two weeks before Christmas. As a child who had always loved the lights, decorations and spirit of the season, Riley was devastated to be in the hospital during this time of year.

“My husband decided to try to find some lights to bring to his room,” Kellee said. “He decorated his room, and holy cow, did that make a difference. Riley got up and walked, he started eating and he got home a week before Christmas.”

The following year, Riley had an idea.

“He said, ‘Mom, Dad, can we take lights to the kids? I want them to feel that experience,’” Kellee said.

That simple wish turned into Riley’s Warriors. What began as delivering a few lights and decorations has since grown into full holiday room decorating bags, smile packs and hospital starter packs for pediatric cancer patients and families.

“It’s just because of his love of wanting to give back to all the kids that go through what he went through,” Kellee said.

Finding family through Courage of Carly

That desire to connect with others is also a big reason Courage of Carly has meant so much to Riley and his family.

“Courage of Carly has meant so much to me and my family,” Riley said. “Getting to spend time doing fun stuff with kids going through what I did is something very special because they get it where my other friends don’t. I feel free to be myself.”

For Riley, Courage of Carly has been more than a support system. It has become family.

“Courage of Carly is family,” he said. “Megan and Madison are amazing, and I don’t think we would be where we are without Courage of Carly. We have met Chuck [Carly’s dad] and his wife, and I feel like Carly has to be so proud of what her dream has become.”

Four smiling people stand indoors by a bell wall display, proudly celebrating Riley Greene’s Five-Year Victory. They wear matching “Ryan’s Warriors” shirts, and a “congrats” balloon with a dinosaur is visible to the left. The group has their arms around each other, radiating joy and unity.
A person stands smiling with hands clasped near a golden bell mounted on the wall, commemorating Riley Greene’s Five-Year Victory, with plaques and a photograph in the background.
A diverse group of people pose and smile together indoors, some waving and some kneeling in front, celebrating Riley Greene’s Five-Year Victory. A green inflatable dinosaur hangs above them as sunlight shines through large windows on the left.

A mother’s perspective in cancer research

There is another layer to the Greene family’s story, too. In addition to being Riley’s mother, Kellee works in cancer research as a senior research associate at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. She says that perspective shaped the way she experienced Riley’s diagnosis and treatment.

“I feel like it’s a double-edged sword because I knew exactly what he was going to be going through,” she said. “But then I felt like I could be a better advocate for him because of that. I could ask questions that maybe someone who didn’t know the science wouldn’t ask.”

At the same time, going through this journey as a mother changed the way she looks at her work.

“It made me more excited to look for more helpful ways to translate the science to the clinic faster,” Kellee said. “When you see someone like Riley ring the bell, you know what you’re doing is making a difference.”

 

 

A message for other families

Now, with five years behind him, Riley hopes his story can encourage other children and families still in the middle of their own journeys.

“I’d just say keep going, even on the days when it feels impossible,” he said. “It’s okay to be scared, it’s okay to be angry, and it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. But you’re stronger than you think and you can do hard things. Lean on the people around you, because there are so many who want to help and we are stronger together. Don’t ever lose hope.”

For the Greene family, the five-year bell ringing was not just a celebration of survivorship. It was a celebration of resilience, community and the people who helped carry them through.

And for Riley, it was something even more personal: a chance to finally feel the full weight of how far he has come.

35 Ways Courage of Carly helps kids with cancer and blood disorders

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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

How Donations Fuel Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs

Posted on by Maryalice Skutnik

How Donations Fuel Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs

When you support the Courage of Carly Fund, you’re not only standing in solidarity with patients and their families, but you’re also doing your part to establish more effective and less invasive treatments for childhood cancer.

One Organization ➡️ Countless Meaningful Results

Here are a few ways your Courage of Carly Donations make a difference.

Research and Clinical Trials

A child and an adult hug each other warmly in a hallway, celebrating hope inspired by recent pediatric cancer breakthroughs. The child wears a colorful striped sweater, has beaded braids, and a mask. Artworks hang on the wall in the background.

Roswell Park is the only organization in Western New York researching childhood cancer.

Clinical trials are essential to improving survival rates and reducing long-term side effects. Nationally, only about 4% of  federal cancer research funding is dedicated to pediatric cancers. Private philanthropy, like Courage of Carly, is essential to fill those gaps.

“It’s not just even about the cure, it’s really about the tolerability of the treatment in both the short term and the long term. I just feel we can do better. And that’s what really drives me to want to be involved in these clinical trials and new research studies. This is how we make a difference, especially for patients in the future,” said Kara Kelly, MD, Chair of Roswell Park Golisano Children’s Buffalo Cancer and Blood Disorders Program.

In 2025, Roswell Park reached several major clinical milestones, including 16 bone marrow and cell therapy infusions — the highest annual total to date. The Transplant and Cell Therapy Program also earned FACT reaccreditation, along with an Optum Center of Excellence designation reflecting national quality standards.

“Right now, the focus is in how we can enhance clinical trials and how can we get more funding for pediatric patients,” said Courage of Carly co-founder Chuck Collard.

Offering Innovative, Personalized Treatment

Cancer treatment is never one-size-fits-all. Funding supports highly individualized care plans that adjust based on each child’s response to therapy.

“Dr. Kelly picked the chemotherapy regimen that allowed me to be less sick and still be involved in my life,” pediatric patient Sophia Baudo said. At Sophia’s bell ringing in August of 2024, she thanked Dr. Kelly for saving her life. 

This personalized approach allows children to maintain routines, attend school when possible and remain connected to life outside the hospital.

Accessing childhood cancer care historically required families to travel long distances for advanced treatment. Expanded support has helped more children receive specialized, state-of-the-art care locally at Roswell Park, reducing travel burdens and allowing families to remain connected to their schools, jobs and communities.

“Now we have clinical trials here, so we’re able to keep more families here in Western New York,” Collard said. “That’s less disruption for the siblings, the parents and the extended family.”

A young woman with a shaved head hugs an older woman with glasses. Both are smiling warmly in a bright indoor setting, surrounded by other people—a touching moment that reflects hope inspired by recent Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs.
A young child in a Spider-Man outfit rings a bell on the wall, smiling—a joyful celebration of hope and Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs—with a woman kneeling beside a toddler and a man standing, clapping and smiling.

Roswell Park is a leader in childhood cancer care nationwide

Western New York is one of only three places nationwide where a freestanding children’s hospital is directly connected to an NCI-designated comprehensive care center.

In fact, since Dr. Kelly came to Roswell Park in 2016, she’s recruited eight faculty members from top children’s hospitals and universities across the country.

“We have taken lead roles in national clinical trials and we’re changing the standard of care for different diseases that we care for,” explained Dr. Kelly. “We’ve developed innovative, multi-disciplinary programs that have truly benefitted our patients.”

Collard added, “We’re blessed to have some incredible clinicians here in Western New York. We’re blessed to have a joint hematology oncology program. We are so blessed because we know we’re getting best in class care. There’s no doubt.”

Supporting Courage of Carly Families

A man and three children stand by a fountain, each child holding a sign that says “Uniting for” with their names: Marta, Zoe, and Savannah. The sun is shining and trees with autumn leaves are in the background, as they come together in support of Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs.

Families navigating childhood cancer or blood disorders are often burdened with overwhelming stress, logistical challenges and emotional strain. Before structured programs existed through Courage of Carly, parents and caregivers frequently navigated treatment without much guidance.

“We didn’t have a lot of support for families. Each family individually had to navigate their own journey,” said Collard.

Today, funding ensures families have access to emotional, educational and therapeutic support through every stage of treatment.

“The resources extend far beyond the patient; it’s the family members as well,” Collard said.

Programs supported through Courage include in-clinic activities, Beads of Courage, comfort packages, treatment milestone celebrations, family counseling services and teen wellness programs designed to support adolescents through diagnosis and recovery.

Letting Kids, Be Kids

Cancer care can last months or even years, and even once a patient is deemed “cancer-free,” many say their diagnosis and experience stays with them forever. That’s why preserving a sense of normalcy is essential. Psychosocial and diversionary programs create opportunities for joy, celebration and connection throughout treatment.

“I really emphasized that I wanted to graduate high school and dance, and Dr. Kelly told me she would do everything in her power to make that possible,” Baudo said.

There are more than 60 hosted every year. These programs include concerts, sporting events, game nights, prom experiences, holiday celebrations and other age-appropriate events that help children continue being kids, even in the midst of treatment.

A young child in a red sweater is sliding down a large, colorful inflatable slide indoors, smiling and having fun—a joyful moment that reflects the hope and happiness inspired by recent Pediatric Cancer Breakthroughs.
A young child in a red shirt smiles while sitting in a white and blue ball pit at an indoor play area, with a small slide behind them—capturing the joy and hope inspired by recent pediatric cancer breakthroughs.

Donors Like You Strengthen Pediatric Care

Donor-supported research and clinical innovation are helping accelerate real progress in pediatric oncology.

“We’ve been able to maintain really high success rates, but with a lot less therapy. The most recent clinical trial that we reported last year, only 1% of children receive radiation treatment, in contrast to about 75% that had received it with my previous regimen. And we know that that’s going to translate into, much lower risk of side effects in the long term,” said Dr. Kelly. “Seeing how our advancements in just a couple of years made all the difference makes me excited for patients in the future. We are really on the cusp of just transformative changes for many of the diseases that we care for.” 

Funding through Courage of Carly supports comprehensive childhood cancer care that extends beyond treatment alone. By investing in research, family stability, clinical innovation, psychosocial support and quality of life programs, Courage of Carly helps ensure children and families receive care rooted in compassion, excellence and hope.

 

 

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Meet Courage of Carly's Dynamic Duo

Dr. Kelly Recognized for Childhood Cancer Research

Posted on by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Dr. Kelly Recognized for Childhood Cancer Research

Kara Kelly, MD, is the Waldemar J. Kaminski Endowed Chair of Pediatrics at Roswell Park and leads a team solely focused on the care of pediatric patients. During the All Star Night gala in November 2025, Dr. Kelly was honored with the Dr. Thomas B. Tomasi Award, a distinction that recognizes a Roswell Park faculty member who has spearheaded groundbreaking research and brought significant hope to cancer patients.

Providing Hope for Kids Battling Cancer

This recognition puts the spotlight on her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to finding better, less toxic treatments to care for Roswell Park’s youngest patients. Roswell Park stands apart from the pack when it comes to pediatric cancer care and research. We are one of only three centers in the country with a collaborative program structure. That collaboration with pediatric partners allows young patients to stay close to home while receiving highly specialized care.

Dr. Kara Kelly at the One Gold event for childhood cancer

Families no longer need to leave Western New York to pursue advanced therapies or clinical trials. “Being able to tell parents that they don’t have to travel far for hope — that matters,” Dr. Kelly explains. “It keeps families together at the moments when they need each other most.”

The Next Generation of Cancer Care

GMP Facility, cancer research
Dr. Kara Kelly, Roswell Park

Even more, Roswell Park is the only institution in the region where pediatric cancer care is fully integrated with world-class cancer research. For families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis, that distinction can mean access to innovative therapies, clinical trials and discoveries that are shaping the future of treatment. Donations ensure those discoveries are not happening someday but right now.

Roswell Park’s research-driven approach ensures children are receiving the best care available while benefiting from breakthroughs that will improve survival and quality of life for years to come.

Roswell Park Positioned as a Nationwide Leader

At the heart of this progress is Dr. Kelly, whose leadership has helped elevate pediatric oncology and blood disorders at Roswell Park into a nationally recognized program.

“Kids with cancer don’t just deserve treatment, they deserve better answers,” Dr. Kelly shared. “Everything we do is about pushing the science forward while never losing sight of the child and family in front of us.”

Dr. Kelly’s dual focus on compassionate care and rigorous research defines the program’s impact. As both a clinician and researcher, she understands the urgency of translating discovery into real-world solutions. “For pediatric cancer, research isn’t optional. It’s essential,” she notes. “Children don’t have time to wait for incremental change.”

Donations to Roswell Park are ensuring that research moves forward, no matter what.

“Every breakthrough represents a child who gets to grow up,” Dr. Kelly says. “That’s what drives us.”

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Meet Eddie, the 2025 Tree of Hope lighter

Posted on by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Meet Eddie, the 2025 Tree of Hope lighter

2025 Tree of Hope Lighter Eddie with Buffalo Sabres player Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen at Roswell Park

If you ask Edison “Eddie” Golden how he wound up getting chemotherapy at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, he can tell you all the details. 

“It was April 7, the start of everything,” he says, wrapped in a fuzzy Grinch blanket, examining his breakfast. “For a couple of weeks, I just really didn’t have a lot of energy and I didn’t want to do the stuff I normally would.” 

He had a cough that wouldn’t go away and he wasn’t his normal active self, says Melissa Golden, his mom. “Since birth we’ve called him Sweaty Eddie because he just doesn’t stop. He loves to play outside. We usually have to call him in when it gets dark.” 

That night, Michael, Eddie’s dad, took him to their pediatrician who worried about pneumonia and sent him to urgent care.  From there, they were told to get to a hospital right away, where a blood test revealed it was leukemia. 

“It was T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” Eddie says. 

Two diagnoses in one

As they did the X-ray for pneumonia and found a mass between Eddie’s lungs, physicians saw something else they didn’t like. “We learned he has a double aortic arch, an extra part in his heart,” Melissa says. “The heart surgery will come later, after Eddie is done with his leukemia treatment,” she says. 

With the Roswell Park Oishei Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders program, kids like Eddie benefit from the experts of both hospitals, inpatient care at Oishei Children’s Hospital, where he spent a month, and has been receiving outpatient care at Roswell Park for several months. 

Eddie, Courage of Carly member

“He was very high-risk when he came to us,” says pediatric hematologist/oncologist, Kanwaldeep Mallhi, MD, Eddie’s doctor at Roswell Park. “He had a very high white blood cell count. He was quite sick. The family was overwhelmed initially, but they were very much ready to do whatever we needed to do. From the start, they were a resource family, very supportive of each other.”

Learning from other families

Eddie, Courage of Carly member

Eddie’s treatment consisted of four rounds of chemotherapy so far, resulting in his latest blood work showing no evidence of disease. He’ll next go into a maintenance round, which will last for two years. 

Eddie and his family have become active members of Courage of Carly, where they find support, friendship and — something that’s important for any child — fun. 

“We’re so grateful to the club that no one wants to join. We know every path is different. There are families who have had very hard journeys and they’re all still willing to share experiences and help us in the fight,” says Melissa.

A bright opportunity

Eddie will be bringing his star power, and his friends and family, to this year’s Tree of Hope celebration on Friday, December 12. 

“He really feels like a celebrity already,” Melissa says with a grin. “He’s waiting for his contract.” 

Eddie will be joined by his parents, his older and younger brothers, and extended family including his grandmother, who is also a Roswell Park patient, for the festivities. He’s excited to see the lights and to have the most important job of the evening. 

The twinkling lights pale compared to Eddie’s outlook.

Meet Courage of Carly's Dynamic Duo

Meet the Father Who’s Going 500+ Extra Miles for Childhood Cancer Research

Posted on by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Meet the Father Who’s Riding 500+ Miles for Childhood Cancer Research

Brice Dieter, Empire State Ride Road Warrior, and his son, James Dieter, Courage of Carly Member

In a crowd of celebratory riders and spectators at the 2025 Empire State Ride (ESR) finish line, one road warrior stood out. A string of colorful beads hung from his neck, wrapped several times like a cascade to accommodate its 30 feet of length. The bright colors contrasted a white Excelsior jersey, catching the eye of passersby.

Naturally, people had questions.

“I don’t know why I didn’t expect it, but I had all sorts of people like, ‘What’s going on? What’s that all about? And I kept telling the story over and over and over,” said 2025 ESR road warrior Brice Dieter.

Brice was wearing Beads of Courage, given out through the Courage of Carly Fund at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Each bead tells the story of a child’s cancer journey. In this case, it’s the story of his son, James.

“Everything James goes through, he collects a bead for. So, every time he takes chemo, he gets a bead. Every time he gets a bag of fluids, he gets a bead,” Brice explained. “It’s both a beautiful image and a sobering one because of how long the string gets. It’s a powerful visual of what a child can go through.”

The pattern and color of each bead represent a different milestone in James’ treatment. A black bead represents port access, a white bead represents chemotherapy, a yellow bead represents an overnight stay in the hospital and so on.

A Difficult Diagnosis

On October 30, 2023, Brice learned that his then two-year-old son had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The diagnosis came after 11 days of testing and uncertainty. James soon embarked on the first leg of a three-year-long journey to recovery, undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy and many hospital stays.

For Brice and his family of six, James’ cancer journey meant learning to punch fear in the face. The mantra came to Brice on the drive to the hospital in Buffalo, just before the diagnosis.

“We had just gotten on 90, and the fear started to rise up in me. I’m having this conversation in my head: ‘He’s super sick. He’s going to die. It’s your fault.’ Really nasty things. And I stopped myself and said, ‘Nope! We’re not playing with this.’ And I told my wife that no matter what happens, we are not going to entertain fear.”

Brice Dieter, Empire State Ride Road Warrior, and his son, James Dieter, Courage of Carly Member
Brice Dieter, Empire State Ride Road Warrior, and his son, James Dieter, Courage of Carly Member

Ever since, Brice says James has navigated even the hardest parts of his treatment like a champion. So has the whole family. Together, they choose to hold on to the little moments — like James chasing his nurses down the hospital hallways, jumping his Hot Wheels cars over his feet while munching on a giant cookie or belly laughing at silly jokes. This keeps the family going strong.

Despite the inherently scary nature of leukemia, Brice adds that ALL has a set treatment path and a strong survival rate. It’s not lost on him that other forms of childhood cancer, like Ewing Sarcoma, are still difficult to treat.

“It’s so frustrating, angering, infuriating, how many people I know who are being diagnosed with some form of cancer and how some cancers don’t have treatments that work,” Brice said.

A Personal Challenge with a Real Impact

Brice Dieter, Empire State Ride Road Warrior, riding for his son, James Dieter, Courage of Carly Member
Brice Dieter, Empire State Ride Road Warrior, riding for his son, James Dieter, Courage of Carly Member

When he stumbled upon a fundraiser for Empire State Ride in 2024, Brice took time to learn about the 500+ mile bike ride across New York State. The personal challenge drew him in; he loved the idea of pushing himself physically and getting outside his comfort zone. But he was also drawn to the idea of moving vital research forward to help others facing a cancer diagnosis — especially pediatric patients like James.

 

Brice soon discovered that the Courage of Carly program manager, Megan Crawford, has participated in the weeklong Empire State Ride multiple times and planned to again that year. Knowing that he’d ride alongside someone so instrumental in his son’s care sold him on signing up. It’s also what led him to raise an incredible $11,280 for cancer research and achieve Excelsior status.

Reflecting on the experience of riding with Brice, Megan had this to say, “Watching a child fight cancer means watching a parent carry an impossible weight as they face the unimaginable. But still, they never waver as their child’s fiercest advocate. To ride alongside Brice and witness his strength transformed into action was both humbling and inspiring. And while I wish we met under different circumstances, I feel honored to be part of the Dieter family’s journey.”

Brice’s 2025 Empire State Ride Experience

Brice successfully conquered 500+ miles on the road during the 2025 Empire State Ride. His experience, however, transcends the miles. What stood out to Brice was seeing the impact of his fundraising up close: A rider, given more time with his dad because of Roswell Park’s CAR T-Cell therapy; doctors on the frontlines of cancer research, pedaling alongside Brice; programs showing patients living longer thanks to the money raised through events like Empire State Ride and programs like Courage of Carly.

“The impact is real. It’s insane,” Brice reflected.

At the 2025 finish line, Brice’s celebration was cut short due to an unexpected hospital visit for James. He crossed with his fellow road warriors and quickly left to be with his son. But he proudly wore his beads across the finish line.

“Seeing three of my four boys at the finish line, knowing that James and my wife are in the hospital collecting more beads was so powerful. And it galvanized the mission. It galvanized the purpose for why I just pedaled. It validated every sore, every tight muscle, every bit of discomfort I might’ve experienced and made it all more than worth it.”

Brice Dieter, Empire State Ride Road Warrior, riding in honor of his son, James Dieter, Courage of Carly Member

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Sophia Baudo: Dancing through life as a cancer patient

Posted on by j.schifferle

Sophia Baudo: Dancing through life as a cancer patient

Sophia Baudo dances through life as a cancer patient

Sophia Baudo’s energy is magnetic. At just 17 years old, her positive attitude and engaging smile take center stage in even the hardest of times. Her ability to focus on the good and dance through life’s challenges played a pivotal role in January of 2024 and the months that followed. That’s when Sophia learned she had cancer.

Sophia’s Cancer Diagnosis​

A person with a hospital wristband and earphones draws colorful spirals on a transparent sheet, surrounded by art supplies and medical equipment—the scene reflecting the creativity fostered by the Visual Arts Pediatric Program.

Sophia is an active teenager: an involved student at Nardin Academy and a competitive dancer at Company Eight Dance Studio. When she started to develop cold symptoms in July of 2023, cancer was far from the radar.

“I started to get cold symptoms and a cough that just wouldn’t ever go away, and I started to get swollen lymph nodes on my neck. At first, the doctors thought it was just a cold or the flu.” Sophia explained. “I was on antibiotics and steroids, but nothing was helping make me feel better. Nothing was making my lymph nodes go down. This was going on for months, multiple times, multiple antibiotics. Then during Christmas break, I started to wheeze, and I couldn’t breathe.”

Sophia’s mom knew something was wrong. So, they went back to the doctor and received an initial diagnosis of pneumonia. A chest X-ray would later reveal a large mass on the right side of Sophia’s chest. It was Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“It was crazy to me. You never think it’s going to be you, especially being a young, healthy teenager doing all the fun things, but cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, it can hit you,” Sophia, who is a member of Courage of Carly, reflected.

The news came in early January. Amid the challenges of her treatment, Sophia strives to maintain some level of normalcy and seek moments of joy.

Staying Positive Through Cancer Treatment

Sophia is now a patient at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and a member of Courage of Carly. She admits the symptoms of her treatment can be brutal at times, and the journey thus far has been an emotional one. She credits the family and friends in her circle for helping her stay optimistic day after day. It also helps to stay connected with other young cancer patients through CCF. 

“I have a great support system surrounding me, and I have so many people who are rooting for me and I just think that there’s a mind-body connection and if you’re positive, you’ll get through it better. I think that’s been true for me.”

Cancer can take a lot from patients without their control, but Sophia hasn’t let it take the thing that makes her happiest: dancing.

“I’ve been able to continue dancing and I’ve actually been competing,” said Sophia. “Some days after I get treatment, I go straight to the dance studio even if I’m tired.”

Sophia put it best in an Instagram caption with photos from a competition during her treatment: “Dancing through life,” she stated simply.

Sophia Baudo stands with a group of dancers in lime green shirts.

Inspiring Others During Her Cancer Journey​

Each year, the Buffalo Sabres team up with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center through Bald for Bucks, a program that encourages people to shave their head in solidarity with cancer patients. As part of this program, Dan DunLeavy and Marty Biron raise money and shave their heads for the cause.

At the 2024 event, Sophia was selected to help with the headshavings during the Sabres live broadcast.

“It was super fun. I’m super happy I got to do it because shaving my head was hard, so it was fun to shave somebody else’s.”

Sophia’s “soul sister” Penelope was by her side during the event, with assistance from Studio 14120 Salon & Spa.

Sophia Baudio stands behind Marty Biron during the 2024 Bald for Bucks Sabres headshaving.

“You truly aren’t alone because there are so many people who are willing to shave their heads for you. And hair is a big deal. It’s your identity. And especially as a teenager, a teenage girl, that’s who I am. But I’ve found that it doesn’t really matter anymore and so many other people are doing it and it just makes me feel a lot less alone.”

A New Perspective as a Cancer Patient

Cancer isn’t fair, and Sophia, like so many other pediatric patients, knows that firsthand. However, she is committed to living life to the fullest and making the most of each moment.

“It’s awful — symptoms and the sickness, but part of me is grateful for this journey. I know now that everything in life has purpose, and this is serving its purpose. I’ve met some incredible people and learned incredible things.”

Sophia Baudo smiles during a raffle with a bald head

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