Over the last year, the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) has provided service to over 28,000 seriously ill children and their family members. Ruth Zuniga and Andy Soria, along with their little girl Sol, were one such family. Originally from Costa Rica, Andy and Ruth moved to the US to pursue their PhDs and had decided not to have children. However, their little “ray of sunshine,” Sol, had other plans.

Six-year-old Otto “Otto-bot” Stuckman knows a thing or two about heroes. He’s a huge fan of superheroes like the Green Lantern (“He’s got a power ring!”), The Flash (“He’s so fast!”), and Cyborg from Teen Titans (“He has a blaster!”).

Growing up not too far from Oregon in Wenatchee, Washington, Dustin received his undergrad in Sport Management and master’s in Business Administration from Union University in Tennessee. Oregon was always on his radar and in 2012 he decided to move to Portland. When he’s not making people laugh in the office, Dustin enjoys snowboarding and hiking.

Emily “Emz” Pulis is a strong, independent 16-year-old with an infectious grin and a powerful hug. While she may seem quiet at first, it’s not long before she starts cracking jokes and looking for ways to make you smile.

Ayden is a bright, sweet 14-year-old, who has a deep passion for the Seattle Seahawks. When Ayden was one-year-old, he contracted Pneumococcal Bacteremia and sepsis. When his kidney did not recover, he was placed on dialysis for three years until he received a kidney transplant.

Sol is the perfect name for this two-year-old ray of sunshine. Sol loves petting farm animals, pretending to be a dinosaur, blowing bubbles with her Chemo Pal, Emily, and her rubber boots.

It’s said William Shakespeare first penned the phrase “I will wear my heart upon my sleeve,” but Eileen Shattuck took it to the next level when she tattooed the Children’s Cancer Association’s heart logo on her arm. We are incredibly grateful to Eileen for her support of CCA and inspired to know someone who has so much love and dedication for a cause that we all hold close to our hearts.

The Children’s Cancer Association’s (CCA) “One Day. One Friend.” is an annual, online, peer-to-peer fundraiser that helps fund matches for our award-winning Chemo Pal Mentor Program. This program provides children and teens with a caring, trusted, adult friend to look forward to during treatments, and someone in their corner when they need it most. This year, 22 Chemo Pal Mentors and CCA volunteers shared personal stories about their experiences with CCA and asked their friends and family to support a cause they care deeply about. Together, they raised over $20,000!

What inspires Monse? The brilliant colors of the sunset. As a budding photographer, this creative 16-year-old likes capturing the pinks, purples, and blues that she loves so much. She also enjoys painting, exploring new places, and playing the ukulele.

Each year the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) recognizes 12 local children and teens for their outstanding heroism in the face of serious illness.

Chemo Pal Mentor, Lisa Fogg, is quick to share just how lucky she feels to be matched with five-year-old Annabel through the Chemo Pal Mentor Program.

Veda is a charming young talent who is truly wise beyond her years. Both compassionate and polite, she’ll greet you with a handshake, a warm smile, and ask how you’re doing today.

CCA’s Chemo Pal Mentor Program provides kids with a caring, trusted, adult friend to look forward to seeing during treatments, and someone in their corner when they need it most. Chemo Pal mentors play games, listen to music, share hobbies, or simply offer the comfort of companionship, relieving the anxiety, loneliness, and isolation experienced by children in treatment.

Seventeen-year-old Jacob Daskalakis has a contagious smile and a zest for life that is apparent the moment you meet him. He loves riding his dirt bike, running, cheering on the Portland Trail Blazers, and making others laugh.

The holiday season is over, but we aren’t done celebrating quite yet!

If you want to strike up a conversation with Xavier Jackson, just ask him about trains. This friendly nine-year-old will be happy to tell you everything you ever wanted to know, from the different types of engines to the history of locomotion. (It should come as no surprise that he wants to be a conductor someday.)

Ask his friends and family to describe Jesse, and one word always comes up: generous. This thoughtful 18-year-old loves to put others before himself, even though he’s the one who’s fighting leukemia.

Make way for Jasmine “Jazzy” Soria-Pons! She may be just three years old, but this sassy little girl is already running the show. “One night at the hospital, she got all the other kids out of bed and led them down the hall in an impromptu parade,” laughed her mom Monique. “She’s just a natural born leader, I guess.”

Henry is a good-natured three-year-old with a serious thing for superheroes and garbage trucks. He faces every day with boundless energy and joy—in fact, the first thing he says when he wakes up is, “Yay! It’s morning time!”

Holly is a sweet, quiet third-grader who loves the color purple, practicing the piano, singing, riding her bike, and playing board games with her parents and four siblings.