On Monday, January 6, 2025, the GFWC Miami Springs Woman's Club gathered for their first membership meeting of the year to celebrate a heartfelt and victorious moment: the presentation of a $6,000 donation to two organizations dedicated to fighting childhood cancer, ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, and SebastianStrong Foundation. These funds were generated during the Club's 2024 Jail & Bail for Charity, an annual event that cleverly "arrests" community members for doing good and challenges them to raise "bail" money to secure their release. The proceeds not only support the Club's many initiatives but also specifically channel hope and resources into the battle against pediatric cancer.
From its inception, the Jail & Bail fundraising event was designed to uplift Miami Springs by highlighting the positive deeds of everyday heroes—teachers, neighbors, small business owners, and civic leaders—who then rally their personal networks to donate. This year, their combined efforts brought in a little over $11,000, an impressive sum that the Club earmarked in part to help conquer one of the most pressing and sadly underfunded issues facing children today.
Childhood cancer is often overlooked in research and funding despite being one of the leading causes of death by disease in children. Historically, less than 5% of the National Cancer Institute's annual budget is allocated to pediatric cancer research, leaving many families feeling unsupported and isolated as they search for effective treatments. Pharmaceutical companies, too, may view childhood cancer drugs as less profitable due to smaller patient populations, creating further gaps in the search for cures.
When most people think of pediatric cancer treatment, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis often comes to mind. St. Jude has undoubtedly paved the way for groundbreaking research and is renowned for its policy of not billing families for treatment, travel, or lodging. However, despite its tremendous contributions:
It is not the "Amazon" of childhood cancer: St. Jude's innovative research and philanthropic model have saved countless lives, but even they cannot handle every single pediatric cancer case. They focus on certain types of childhood cancers and enroll only those children whose treatment protocols match their areas of expertise or current clinical trials.
A limited number of inpatient beds: St. Jude has fewer than 80 licensed inpatient beds. Though they treat thousands of children each year in various clinical trials, there is a finite capacity for patients within the hospital. This structural reality means many families must seek care at other specialized hospitals or local medical centers.
Ongoing need for fundraising: St. Jude depends heavily on donations to continue providing free treatment as a research institution. While their fundraising success is remarkable, a significant portion of pediatric cancer types still require additional research and broader access to advanced treatments.
These truths underline why other organizations—like The ChadTough Defeat DIPG and SebastianStrong Foundations—are so essential. No single hospital or nonprofit, however well-known, can address every aspect of the vast and varied world of pediatric oncology.
This urgent need compelled the Miami Springs Woman's Club to choose two extraordinary recipients, each with a deeply personal connection to the cause and our community. The ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation was born from the story of Chad Carr, who was only five years old when he lost his fight against Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). His mother, Tammi Carr, and family transformed their unimaginable grief into a mission to create awareness and "to help patients and families by funding game-changing research and providing navigation throughout their journey." In Chad's memory, Tammi works tirelessly to support projects that seek to improve treatment options, ultimately driving the scientific community closer to a cure.
Equally moving is the legacy behind the SebastianStrong Foundation, founded by Oscar Ortiz in honor of his son, Sebastian Nicolas Ortiz. Diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer, Sebastian approached his illness with immense courage until his passing in 2016 at age 16 after a 14-month battle. In the wake of his family's profound loss, Oscar launched SebastianStrong to champion novel research and more tolerable, "less toxic, more targeted treatment options for kids who will face this disease." By securing funding and uniting communities, SebastianStrong raises visibility for pediatric cancer as a whole while simultaneously honoring its namesake's memory and fighting spirit because "Kids deserve better." Sebastian and Chad deserved better.
Both The ChadTough and SebastianStrong Foundations serve as beacons of hope for families who are grappling with the reality of childhood cancer. They leverage partnerships with leading research institutions, fund clinical trials, and contribute to medical breakthroughs that have the potential to save lives. The additional support they provide is invaluable in a field that often lags behind adult cancer research—due largely to the lack of incentives for major pharmaceutical companies.
Uniting for a cause that touches so many lives feels good, and it reinforces the truth that every contribution, no matter how small, can make a profound difference. Whether it's a volunteer collecting donations or a local business pledging a corporate gift, each act of kindness and generosity moves the needle forward in the race to find more effective, less toxic treatments for the youngest and most vulnerable among us.
As the Miami Springs Woman's Club presented checks to Tammi and Oscar, gratitude and a strong sense of purpose filled the room. Their shared mission—honoring Chad and Sebastian and carrying on their legacies—truly symbolizes the best in humanity. This donation stands as a testament to what a community can accomplish when driven by a single, compassionate vision: a future in which no child's life is cut short by cancer.
For those interested in continuing the momentum, direct donations to The ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation and SebastianStrong Foundation are welcome, as is volunteer work, social media advocacy, and sharing these powerful stories. No matter how small, every effort can empower these organizations to keep forging new paths in pediatric cancer research. With dedication and unity, we can offer hope for a future free from the heartbreak of childhood cancer—ensuring that Chad, Sebastian, and countless others did not fight in vain.
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