Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Elaine Kay, Director of Rally Tennessee of Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, who shares how Rally Foundation began in 2005, the same year her 11 year old son, James, was diagnosed with a rare aggressive sarcoma, and how that lead her to launch the Rally Tennessee chapter in 2010.
Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research is a nonprofit that empowers volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures.
During the interview, Elaine shares how the organization funds research, but also helps families going through a child's cancer diagnosis: (1) Rally has a national program called the Family Emergency Fund which directly pays bills for families. In Tennessee, all five hospitals treating pediatric oncology patients use this fund. (2) Rally takes meals to the hospitals for the patients, their parents, and their siblings. (3) Rally provides counseling for the families. (4) Recently, Rally set up a Travel Fund to help patients travel to their treatment locations. Rally also provides support and love to these families through social events, like a Christmas party and summer ice cream party.
Elaine wraps up by talking about how much the community support means to the children and families and how the community can get involved, like with their upcoming event, RALLY ON THE RUNWAY, a fashion show with the Tennessee Titans taking place on April 10, 2025 at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee.
Visit https://rallyfoundation.org to learn more.
/ rallyfoundation