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.
Since its inception less than 3 years ago, 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. The largest current project for Kids Join the Fight is a partnership with New Orleans Children's Hospital to develop a 12,000 sq ft. enrichment center within the hospital - a place where priceless and rare moments of joy can be more accessible to these children and their families. Learn more here! https://kjtf.chnola.org/child-enrichment-center/
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. This statistic is staggering and a harsh reality for so many! With only 3 new drugs approved for pediatric cancer treatment since 1980, the children that survive their childhood cancer are destined to have long-term effects from the toxins used to treat them.
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.
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.
