KIDS V CANCER

06/19/2026

🎗️ Honoring McKenna Royer 🎗️

Thank you to Janell for submitting McKenna's shoes for the CureFest Memorial Shoe Display.

McKenna Royer was just 11 years old when she went to be with the Lord on February 26, 2024, after courageously battling DMG, a rare and aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer. She was born on September 9, 2012, in Columbia, Missouri.
Known to her family and friends as "The Bear," McKenna had the fiercest soul you may have ever seen in a young lady. She was also the sweetest little thing, always wanting to help her friends, family, and anyone that might need tender loving care. Her smile was radiant and her laughter infectious.

McKenna was always brave and strong during her battle. She was an amazing daughter, sister, and friend to so many. She left an incredible impact on all that encountered her beautiful spirit.

Her favorite place to be was out on the farm in Hatton swimming and playing on the land, surrounded by her siblings, cousins, and family. She loved to travel and was always up for any adventure.

McKenna will be deeply missed by her parents Keith and Janell, her sister Avery, and brother Jamison, who cherish every memory of their beautiful daughter and sister.

The 2026 CureFest Shoe Memorial Display will be on display Sunday, September 20 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Each pair of the 1,800 shoes represents one of the children we lose to cancer each year in the United States.

To Other Childhood Cancer Families:

If you have lost a child to cancer, we invite you to honor their memory by contributing shoes to our display. Please send shoes to:

CureFest Shoe Memorial
Attention: Mike Gillette
10311 Beaumont St.
Fairfax, VA 22030

Include a note with your name, email, your child's name and hometown, and shoe description (brand, color, size).

You'll receive email confirmation within one week. We recommend sending new or similar shoes due to shipping risks. Shoes from bereaved families receive special handling.

Once we receive your child's shoes, they will be included in the display each year. You only need to submit once.

For questions, contact Mike at [email protected]. 🎗️🎗️🎗️

06/16/2026

A real goody!

Flashback Photo- Jacob, Ben, Alexis and Jacklyn hanging out in The City:)

06/16/2026

We would like to thank Mairead Finn from the Vivienne C Finn Foundation for her invaluable contributions to the passage of Mikaela Naylon’s Give Kids A Chance Act, email campaigns, design expertise, and collaborative leadership to drive progress and empower youth advocates. Mairead Finn
Thank you for your continual advocacy and hard work. Let’s keep at it!

06/12/2026

Registration for CureFest 2026 is open!

Be a voice for children with cancer and register today for this free event!

www.CureFestUSA.org

CureFest for Childhood Cancer Weekend will be held in Washington, DC on September 18 - 20, 2026.

Here is the preliminary Schedule of Events.

https://www.curefestusa.org/about2026

For those of you traveling to Washington, DC, there are various hotels in the vicinity of CureFest.

https://www.curefestusa.org/hotels

Interested in volunteering? Please visit our volunteer signup page.

https://tinyurl.com/cfvolunteers26

If your childhood cancer foundation or group would like to exhibit at the Meet and Greet, please reserve a table and chairs.

https://www.curefestusa.org/foundationtables

Stay tuned for details about the CureFest Tribute Wall! We are putting the final touches on a new submission system.

Thank you for your commitment to the cause! We look forward to seeing you in September!


06/11/2026

We extend our gratitude to Brave Like McKenna for assisting in the passage of the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act through their strategic email campaign with youth advocates and Members of Congress. Please look into the remarkable work they are doing to improve pediatric cancer research. We are grateful for your council and guidance. Brave Like McKenna

Today, on International Family Day, we honor the incredible families Brave Like McKenna has had the privilege of walking alongside this year. 💛

Families navigating pediatric cancer know a road no one should ever have to walk. The appointments, the unknowns, the difficult conversations, the fear, the grief, and the strength it takes to keep showing up each day.

We know this journey personally because we have lived it, too.

The Brave Like McKenna Foundation exists to remind families they are not alone in their darkest hours. To stand beside them with support, compassion, and hope when they need it most.

To every family in the fight: we see you, we honor you, and we are holding space for your story today and every day. 💛

06/08/2026

Our special acknowledgement is for our “paparazzi”. The group of people who bring youth advocates to the nation's Capitol to share their journey with lawmakers, ultimately supporting our kids. They assist in making this day happen!

06/05/2026

Attention youth advocates: The registration deadline for Climb the Hill on June 25 is June 11. For further details, please contact Jenn via email at [email protected].

06/03/2026

The powerful alliance of warrior and sibling, embodied by the brothers, drove meaningful legislative change. We were honored to have them Climb the Hill with us, where their effectiveness was evident. Way to go boys!
*pictured below at CureFest event*

06/01/2026

A brief look at young advocates participating in meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. without adults. The occasion belongs to them, and their voices matter.