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THRIVING ON

We are Thriving On, an organization built to provide financial support for adults battling pediatric forms of brain cancer.

HISTORY

Our dear friend Anne was diagnosed with a form of cancer most commonly found in children, medulloblastoma. Let that sink in for a moment: diagnosed with a kid’s cancer as an adult. The rallying cry for brain cancer awareness has become “Gray Matters” and this diagnosis was truly a deeply gray area. The support and funding dedicated to pediatric cancers is not designed to support adults with pediatric cancer.

This gray area creates many barriers to accessing new treatments, including emerging clinical trials, or finding financial assistance to obtain existing treatments. Our friend Anne was blessed with family and friends who were able to lend assistance whenever and wherever possible to make sure that she could access these life-extending treatments. Unfortunately, we know that this kind of support may not be a reality for other folks fighting in the gray.

“The incidence of adult medulloblastomas is approximately 0.5 per million per year, and decreases with increasing age.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK12737/

MISSION

In the spirit of shining light into the darkness, we want to provide financial assistance to folks that find themselves in this gray area: adults diagnosed with pediatric forms of brain cancer. To help these individuals thrive on a single ray of sun, that is, to work within the confines of the difficult diagnosis they are navigating and access the treatments that can improve their quality of life.

This could mean a lot of different things, but our hope is to write grants for qualified individuals, to help support them in their battle with pediatric brain cancer. Maybe that looks like a $1,000 to pay for travel expenses to get to a clinical trial. Maybe that looks like $500 to cover hotel stays during a bout of radiation therapy out of town. Maybe that looks like $2,000 to give you and your family an opportunity to travel somewhere warm when the bitter cold of treatments has rattled your bones.                              

“In adults (patients ≥ 16 years of age), medulloblastomas are much less common, accounting for < 1% of all adult brain tumors.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK12737/

RECIPIENTS

2020

2nd: Walela Nehanda

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Meet Walela. Yesterday, in honor of Anne's birthday, we were blessed to be able to support Walela with a grant to support them as they navigate life with advanced stage leukemia in the midst of global pandemic. . . Read more about Walela below and follow them at @itswalela to support their essential transformative justice work. . . Walela, thanks for allowing us to be a small part of your big story. . . . Walela Nehanda is a 26 year old Black queer disabled and trans non binary femme organizer & writer based in South Central, Los Angeles. In 2017, they were diagnosed with advanced stage leukemia and are currently awaiting a life saving bone marrow transplant. Walela's first hand experience with medical racism and ableism prompted them to study and analyze the ways in which our movements for liberation can do better when it comes to including Disability Justice. They are one of the co-founders of Spit Justice – a Black grassroots collective based in South Central consisting of working class, queer, trans/gender non conforming organizers. Walela has been featured in publications like Nylon Magazine, Teen Vogue, The Guardian Vice i-D, and more. They have performed and given workshops across the country on topics such as: accessibility, ableism, disability justice, medical apartheid, Black resistance throughout the diaspora, and transformative justice. . . . #ThrivingOn #ForAnneForAlways #ResistAndPersist #GriefAndJoy #SeekJustice

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2019

1st: Molly Oldham

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Last night I had the absolute honor and privilege of meeting Sarah and Gideon from @thrivingonasinglerayofsun ! This wonderful foundation was started because of Anne, who died in August from brain cancer. Although Anne was an adult, she was diagnosed with a pediatric brain cancer and needed 3 surgeries as well as chemotherapy and radiation. Her favorite flowers were sunflowers, and I was so excited when Sarah handed me this beautiful jar of light to remember Anne by. Although I never met her she has made such a great impact on my life, and my perspective on things. • I am also incredibly honored to be the first recipient of their 2,500 dollar grant. When Anne died, she decided she wanted the money her foundation raised to go to people “just like her”. ( Although I just turned 18 in July, I battle a type of cancer that is most commonly found in ages 3 and under. ) This grant is so helpful and takes a huge financial burden off my family and I. Medical bills and therapies/treatments are so expensive and this money will be a huge help to us. @thrivingonasinglerayofsun Thank you for your kindness, love, and passion to make a difference in this world! You’ve certainly made a difference in mine💜

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EVENTS

2020 Events

The Great Community Sketch – Ongoing

Sketchbook Order Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoN-4T1ltq2ooiRdfoOjQIj-5MwWqAd_RLZrnaMo9NhnUA3Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

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