On Tuesday, August 24, 2021, Gay Davis—co-founder of Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club near Portland, Oregon and generous CCA friend—thanked the crowd of golf pros, amateurs, and their families for joining him at the eleventh annual Golf for Joy pro-am tournament, his favorite day of the year.

Gathering five Oregonian sports stars, 24 teams of pro and amateur golfers, and their loved ones together at the beautiful Oregon Golf Club for the thirteenth annual CCA Invitational certainly made for a competitive pro-am tournament. But more importantly, it created a powerful force for Joy, raising more than $370,000 in support of CCA’s JoyRx Music program and enabling thousands of sick kids and their families to find Joy and emotional healing while facing the profound hardship of serious pediatric illness.

When Bertha first found out her son, Emet, had leukemia, she was speechless. She didn’t know how to break the news to Emet, who was only 10 years old at the time, without scaring him. But then, she found the perfect words.

A decade ago, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club co-founder and dedicated Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) supporter, Gay Davis, challenged himself to play 100 holes to raise funds for CCA’s Joy-based programs.

Madelynn is a sweet, friendly five-year-old who loves arts and crafts, Legos, and playing outside. But in summer 2019, Madelynn’s parents, Bridgette and Alex, noticed a worrying change. Madelynn no longer had the energy to do her favorite activities, and her parents had to carry her everywhere—she wouldn’t even walk into a store with her mom to pick out a toy. 

Imagine being nine years old and having more medical diagnoses than you can count. Spending months of your life in a hospital bed, instead of playing outside. My son, Xay, has been in and out of the hospital since the day he was born. He has epilepsy, chronic lung disease, spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, ADHD, an autoimmune disorder…but despite everything, Xay always finds a reason to smile. 

In December 2019, just before the holidays, Wesley was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer.  

To Peter Tran, a 19-year-old cancer survivor, JoyRx Mentorship program graduate, and artist from Portland, OR, mentorship means connection.  

Meet Kira, a bright and musical 15-year-old who has recently completed three years of treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).  

Tucked among other islands of Micronesia, Kosrae is a remote speck in the middle of the Pacific. Eight-year-old David Kihleng and his family called this tiny island paradise home — at least, they did until they learned that David had T-cell leukemia in 2018.

When Regina Ellis founded Children’s Cancer Association in 1995, she had no way of knowing the Joyful difference she’d create for thousands of young patients and their families—not only in her home state of Oregon, but in pediatric hospitals across the country. As we celebrate our silver anniversary and 25 years of Joy delivery, we do so with a bold vision for our future—and now, with a new leader at our helm.

When Janalyn’s son, Spencer, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma just before his 13th birthday, she saw firsthand how powerful and healing Joy can be. During his first prolonged hospital stay, Spencer shut down. He refused every comfort, interaction, and activity offered—until CCA’s trained MyMusicRx^® musicians, Cameron and Jean, walked through the door.

Beginning today, Oregonians statewide will see a new round of “Wear a Mask” public service anouncements — this time, starring the masked-up faces of young patients and families served by Children’s Cancer Association. 

Just over 10 years ago, Gay Davis decided to fuse his passion for golf with his desire to help deliver Joy to kids with cancer.

Seriously ill children, teens, and their families remain isolated in quarantine, cut off from the support of extended family, friends, and the world around them. CCA is committed to continuing service delivery for this vulnerable population, who are deeply impacted by this pandemic. 

The pandemic has left many of us experiencing heightened feelings of anxiety, stress, uncertainty, and isolation — feelings incredibly familiar to Lance and Chloe, whose son, Bo, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) when he was just nine months old.

We are thrilled to team up with Gibson, the world’s most iconic guitar brand, to bring the healing power of music to the seriously ill kids and teens served by MyMusicRx^®. 

As an organization focused on Joy as a pathway to greater emotional well-being, we want to share a few ideas to help you find Joy in this moment.

CCA is committed to continuing service delivery for seriously ill children and their families and supporting the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who care for them, all who are even more deeply impacted during this pandemic. With social distance strategies in place, our team is innovating the ways we deliver Joy remotely. 

The phoenix is a mythological bird that rises from the ashes, symbolizing the ability to overcome darkness and rise to any challenge. It’s a fitting name for our January Hero, 12-year-old Phoenix, who has risen above his circumstances with incredible strength and courage.