Join our team!
Join the St. Louis Children's Hospital Pedal the Cause team and help raise funds for critical cancer research, bringing us all closer to the day we live in a world without this disease. Every dollar we raise remains in St. Louis, funding research at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children's Hospital and Siteman Cancer Center.
Siteman Kids seeks to advance pediatric cancer research and improve outcomes for kids and their families. Through funding from vital partners like Pedal the Cause, St. Louis Children's Hospital Foundation and the Children's Discovery Institute (CDI), we are enabling researchers to discover lifesaving treatments and cures for pediatric cancers.
St. Louis Children's Hospital Team Captains
Trish Lollo, hospital president
Dr. Jorge Di Paola, division chief, pediatric hematology oncology
For more information about St. Louis Children's Hospital's Pedal The Cause Team, please contact Katelyn Yeager at Katelyn.Yeager@bjc.org.
Meet the 2026 Pedal the Cause Ambassador, David 
David is a spunky 9-year-old with a wild imagination, a lot of determination, and a big sense of humor. This future architect loves gaming, hanging out with his big sister, and dreaming large, even while navigating treatment for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of blood cancer.
His mom says David’s resilience and humor continue to shine through as he undergoes a multiyear treatment plan, which seems challenging. Until his diagnosis, David was a seemingly healthy child. In spring 2025, David’s mom, Jessica, noticed a large lump on his neck. At first, they assumed it was something minor, but after a round of antibiotics, specialist visits, and weeks of waiting with no clear answers, a biopsy was ordered. The results confirmed his diagnosis, and within a day they were admitted to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Treatment for David’s disease is long, and various phases have been both up and down for him with numerous hospital stays and complications. He was diagnosed twice with typhlitis, a rare and very serious infection around the intestines. He also required emergency surgery to replace a port and then developed a brain clot that required twice daily injections. The road has not been easy, and David currently requires constant infusions and visits the clinic twice a week. With more than 18 months of treatment remaining, David and his family try to focus on the daily obstacles and achievements by crossing each bridge as it comes.
David’s family describes his care at St. Louis Children’s as world-class. David feels empowered to have control over his treatment when possible and has his own steps to try to make himself feel better when he is having hard days. While his treatment is lengthy, David’s family is thankful for the specialized cancer care through Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. David has received the most advanced medical treatments, along with compassionate, family-centered care. Donor support, like yours, is fueling critical pediatric cancer research to accelerate discoveries so kids like David can get back to being kids!
