Thank you for visiting my fundraising page! This event supports a cause that hits very close to home for us. In April, our daughter Summer (then 19 months old) was diagnosed with a brain tumor called Craniopharyngioma after becoming virtually blind in a matter of days.

In the four months since, she's had two craniotomies. We had hoped the first would control this tumor and allow her brain to develop a bit further before she has to go through radiation. Unfortunately, at her 3-month-post-op scan we found out that the cystic part of the tumor had come back aggressively, and was much larger than before. A second surgery reduced the cyst again, and now we're facing radiation and possibly some chemotherapy.

But we're still lucky. Summer's tumor is a very curable one, as far as brain tumors go. Other families have it much worse. The treatments are more severe, and in some cases there's no known effective treatment at all. I want to do everything I can to help support research that will make treatments more effective for my own daughter, and for those families as well. This fundraising event is a start.

The pediatric brain tumor research laboratory at Children's Hospital in Seattle is one of the top facilities of its kind in the world. Through the passionate efforts of award winning, globally recognized scientists, new treatments are being developed, tested and brought into practice; kids are getting better. But they need help. Government funding is being cut, promising programs are being dropped and researchers are being let go. 100% of your tax deductible donation goes directly to help develop cures for kids with cancer.

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. Also, don't forget to ask your employer if they'll match your contribution!

Thanks for your support!

To read more of Summer's story, visit my blog: http://summerclaire.blogspot.com