Changing the trajectory of pediatric brain cancer diagnosis and treatment
Join our 2026 Falmouth Road Race Team
The Adelia the Wonder Girl Team will be running its 4th annual Falmouth Road Race this summer for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Center that merges Dana Farber and Boston Children's Hospital. Join us in-person or virtually as we approach $1 million raised to-date.
In-Person Runner, ages 10+ | Complete the 7-mile race, live, in Falmouth on August 18th. Each runner will receive a free race t-shirt and race bib courtesy of Dana Farber. $1,500 fundraising goal. Registration is LIVE!
Virtual Adult Runner, ages 18+ | Complete the 7-mile length of the race virtually (which means location of your choice, in as many parts as you’d like) during the week of August 11th. $750 fundraising goal. Registration is LIVE!
Virtual Child Runner, ages 6+ | Complete the 7-mile length of the race virtually (which means location of your choice, in as many parts as you’d like) during the week of August 11th. Join our optional group runs in Hingham that week, with fun activities, snacks and more. All children will have the option to fundraise via a dedicated kids page (no minimums). Registration opens June 2026.
We will be hosting a series fundraising events and efforts leading up to the race to ensure all runners meet their fundraising goal.
What is Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG)?
A malignant brain tumor that primarily affects children and young adults.
It's characterized by rapid growth and the tendency to spread into surrounding brain tissue, making it difficult to treat. The standard of care for this cancer, which is 6 weeks of radiation and then level I clinical trials, has not changed since 1963 when Neil Armstrong’s daughter passed away from the same cancer. There has yet to be a drug FDA approved that is successful in treating this cancer. We are determined to keep fighting in Adelia’s honor, and for all of the other children we have lost, that are fighting, and will be diagnosed tomorrow and the day after. Children should not be given a death sentence, and families deserve to see their beautiful children grow up to live fulfilling lives.
Adelia “The Wonder Girl” courageously battled DMG for 15-months, leaving us in May of 2024.
What’s Important to Us
Doing better for our kids.
Raising Awareness
RARE, BUT NOT-SO-RARE
Each year, 300 to 500 children in the United States are diagnosed with Diffuse Midline Glioma, or DMG.
Gliomas are the most common form of brain malignancy and are associated with resistance to therapy and high mortality.
A greater sense of urgency can not only save families from the suffering we endured, but open a path to find a cure for all pediatric brain cancers .
Improving Care
CHANGING THE STATUS-QUO
Unlike most other pediatric cancers, survival for Diffuse Midline Glioma has not changed in over 50 years. The average survival rate is 8-11 months, with about 10% of children survive at least 2 years after diagnosis.
The only standard of care for DMG is radiation, a treatment that has remained unchanged since Neil Armstrong's daughter received her diagnosis in 1962.
Given the failure of conventional treatments, greater efforts must be made to fund the development of targeted care.
WE CAN GET THERE
Funding a Cure
Only 4% of all federal funding for cancer research is allocated for pediatric cancer research. And of that 4% - only 1% is allocated for pediatric brain cancer - amounting to a mere 0.04% of all federal funding for cancer research.
For a condition that is the most common type of brain tumor in children under the age of 5, these numbers are startling.
Progress doesn’t happen without grassroots campaigns like ours.
Why we fight
Adelia was an incredibly strong, brave, kind, and smart 8 year old girl when Diffuse Midline Glioma took her life on May 30th, 2026. We call her The Wonder Girl because of her bravery, strength, and courage.When she was diagnosed in February 2023, we were propelled into a world that needs our attention and support. We quickly learned how vastly underfunded pediatric cancer research is, and how those limitations have led to inadequate treatment for our children.
In honor of Adelia, and with a fierce commitment to find a cure, we continue our fight for those that follow.
We’re in this together
Since 2023 our grassroots, community-driven, campaigns have raised over $450,000 for life-saving research, support and clinical trials for pediatric brain cancer patients.
New treatments do not develop without grassroots campaigns like ours.
Who we are
We are people who care deeply about fighting for something better for our children.
We work with the leading pediatric cancer experts at Dana Farber and Boston Children’s Hospital to designate our funding to the teams elevating the level of cancer care - directly impacting families experiencing a pediatric brain cancer diagnosis.
We began our fight in 2023 ,when Adelia was diagnosed, and over the course of her 15-month battle we grew into a community of thousands., and we continue to grow.
We believe in a future with better care, and a cure, and we’re going to fight for it. We can, and we must, do better for our children.
Get involved
There are so many ways to get involved. Join us in a way that inspires you.