$5,821
Raised of $25,000
Founded by 9 year-old Walker Beery in the midst of his battle with brain cancer, Kids Join the Fight is a movement to celebrate the superpowers of children and empower them to raise money to defeat pediatric cancer!
The story that inspired the movement…
A gift of a teddy bear from a fellow cancer patient given to comfort Walker in the hospital made Walker’s “nose burn”. When Walker would tell his parents that his “nose burned” it was their code for happy tears. The overwhelming feeling of this small gift from someone living a similar experience encouraged Walker to want to give back to others as well! It is this simple generous act of love that inspired the Kids Join The Fight movement and we hope to replicate that “nose burning” feeling over and over again to kids fighting their own battle with cancer.
In August of 2019, Walker was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive pediatric brain cancer, Medulloblastoma. Throughout surgeries, hospital stays, and multiple radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Walker’s infectious courage, and gratefulness always amazed his family, his medical community, and all who encountered him during his two year battle with cancer. Walker finished his battle with Medulloblastoma on September 4, 2021, but his legacy lives on in the great work the organization does today. The joyful strength that Walker brought to his relentless battle against pediatric brain cancer coupled with his deep desire to help other children in the same position is the inspiration and motivation for the child-centered, creative fundraising efforts of Kids Join the Fight..
Children in all 50 states inspired by Walker's relentless desire to help other children battling cancer, have held their own events to support Kids Join the Fight. To date, these "founding fighters," and foundations and parents who have followed their lead, have exceeded $4 million in funds raised for Kids Join the Fight's mission, all while learning life-long lessons about philanthropy and gratitude. Kids Join the Fight has dedicated all funds to global research for pediatric brain cancer and to projects that provide local support services that benefit pediatric cancer patients and their families. We recently broke ground on Walker's Imaginarium at the Manning Family Children's. Walker's Imaginarium will provide an innovative environment for patients and families to enjoy time together while in the hospital. A first-of-its kind program in our region, the project will provide a healing and engaging space for patients to thrive and find joy. The 12,000 square foot center will be one of the largest and most comprehensive hospital-based child enrichment spaces in the country.
Click here to learn more about Walker's Imaginarium
Cancer is the number 1 disease-related killer of children in the United States and children only represent 4% of overall cancer research funding in the United States. Americans spend more in three days on Starbucks coffee than the federal government spends on childhood cancer research in a year!
Join KJTF's team in the fight against pediatric cancer!
