When Kira was twelve years old, she received an unexpected cancer diagnosis. Faced with these new hardships, she found joy thanks to her experience with JoyRx Music and the connection she formed with her JoyRx Mentor.

In August 2022, Alan was what he would describe as a typical 17-year-old — enjoying his summer, looking forward to his senior year of high school, and spending time with his friends.  

But by the end of the summer, he’d be grappling with a cancer diagnosis. Thankfully, there was a new friend on the horizon to help make his hospital visits easier.

Thirty years. Three decades.

On our official birthday, July 25, we reflect on the impact thirty years has made on the lives of children nationwide. How do you measure 30 years?

This article is appearing as part of our 30 on 30 series, honoring 30 years of JoyRx programs in 2025. This month, we’re celebrating the stories of two people we’ve served in the past to check in on what they’re up to today!

This article is part of our 30 on 30 series, commemorating 30 years of JoyRx in 2025. This month, we’re highlighting 30 stories of impact from JoyRx Mentorship. 

In 2025, we are honoring thirty years as an organization.  As we reflect on the past three decades, we’re humbled to say that we’ve been able to offer free JoyRx programs and create numerous moments of joy thanks to the generosity of many outstanding supporters and champions in the community. 

Join us as we take a look at 30 milestones and key moments that define our first thirty years.  

Bluey and Legos and bears… oh my! With an abundance of toy drives in December, JoyRx Mentorship’s toy closet is filled for another year of fun interactions between mentors and their mentees. Thanks to the generous support of our corporate and community partners, we received a combined total of approximately $15,000 in toy donations!

Peter describes it like this: “Many of us have done this: You’re not feeling well, and you don’t know why. So, you look up your symptoms on WebMD to see what’s up.”  Peter was seventeen years old when he typed in his list of issues. He could never have guessed what would happen next.

Tresa is one of our new JoyRx Mentors this year as part of the JoyRx Mentorship program, where mentors help seriously ill kids elevate their mood through laughter and play. This trusted companionship and kindship is a cornerstone of the program — and that sense of community is an important value for Tresa as an individual.

We are thrilled to announce that JoyRx Mentorship has supported over 100 matches as we reach the end of our 2023-2024 fiscal year. Launched in 1999, JoyRx Mentorship is a crucial program for JoyRx, fostering companionship and friendship for children experiencing treatment and hospitalizations.

It started with knee pain: Eight-year-old Hadley complained about her knee hurting and her mom, Launa, took her to the pediatrician. At first, it seemed it was only a possible injury from PE or recess. But Launa could never have guessed the real reason behind her daughter’s pain.

“Olivia is certainly one of the most easygoing humans I have ever known,” Olivia’s mom, Kimmie, said. It’s an apt way to describe Olivia: she’s a bright and optimistic girl who’s always ready to smile and cheer others on. She loves soccer, dancing, holidays, and her family. She’s always ready to greet others with a big hug.

At JoyRx, we believe that Joy is an unlimited resource and undeniable right. And when it comes to friendships, we’ve seen the power of a connection and how it can lead to Joy. That’s why we champion our JoyRx Mentorship program, which fosters and creates friendships for vulnerable children who need Joy most.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and we at JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, are so grateful for our volunteers. We wouldn’t be able to do our healing without the dedication and kindness of our amazing volunteers.

Every February, JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, partners with local Joy Maker businesses to celebrate Joy all month long. This year, we partnered with KATU News, iHeart Radio, other local businesses, and members of the community to raise critical funds for our JoyRx Music, Mentorship, and Nature programs.

Every February, Unitus supports JoyRx and the kids and families to whom it brings the healing power of Joy. The delight and warmth that JoyRx inspires cannot be measured, but it can be felt. You can feel it when you support the JoyRx mission and through the Joy that you bring to kids like 11-year-old Xavier Waldow.

The holiday season can be a source of great Joy for families — and one mother is dedicated to giving back to the community by hosting an annual toy drive for JoyRx Mentorship.

JoyRx Headquarters, located in Portland, Oregon, celebrated Halloween in style with Pumpkin Palooza on October 19. Our staff welcomed children, families, and JoyRx mentors to enjoy our first in-person get-together in almost three years!  

Most people tend to think of arthritis as a condition that only strikes the elderly — but as 10-year-old Myka knows all too well, that’s not the case.

How do you explain to a three-year-old that they have cancer?

That was the unthinkable question Landon’s parents Rebecca and Jeremy were faced with a year ago when they learned that their little boy had leukemia. Normally a spunky, active toddler, Landon had suddenly become tired, pale, and lethargic. So his parents took him to the doctor for tests, which revealed the diagnosis.