The Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation

The Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation The MMEF is an organization dedicated to raising money for pediatric brain tumors. All proceeds go directly toward research.

Melina established The MMEF when she was diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma at age 4--a rare and terminal brain tumor.

’Twas the eve before school.All the would-haves, could-haves, and should-haves started. And the grief just hit.I knew it...
08/23/2026

’Twas the eve before school.
All the would-haves, could-haves, and should-haves started. And the grief just hit.

I knew it would. I knew the absence would be there. And I hate it. I hate that feeling, that hurt. I lost my breath. And I did what I only know to do in those moments.

I choose Melina.

I choose to fight.

It’s the only way I can do something. It’s the only way I can make it all worth it. It’s the only way I can look forward.

So I ran.

I ran for all my Cheeto Racers who are running this September in the Akron Marathon, in the city that haunts me today.

But I ran because it is the only way I can fight.

I choose Melina.

I choose every mom who is here with me.

I choose every mom who, right now, needs hope.

I choose every family who deserves better.

I choose every baby who deserves more than 4.

I ran because it’s all I can do.

I can sit in the hurt. I can let the darkness win. Or I can choose Melina and do what she taught me.

As much as she hated school, she deserved fifth grade. She deserved a chance. She deserved the joy she gives all of us.

But I promise I will fight.

Always, Melina. Always.

Because I can’t change her story. But with everyone who fights with me, I can change someone else’s.

And that’s my fight.

Join me this September. Fight with me. Join my team.

Every step is our fight because, like today, I don’t know how else to do it. But I have to do something.

If you need me, I’ll “rulk” it with you. I’ll dance with you. But I can promise I’ll be at that finish line, grateful to have you with me. 💚🌈.

https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Canfield/TheChooseJoyforMelina5K

Less than a month away! This is the best day of JOY. Come walk/run/crawl with us on September 13th! If you can't make ...
08/19/2026

Less than a month away! This is the best day of JOY. Come walk/run/crawl with us on September 13th! If you can't make it, no worries!!! We had over 200 virtual runners last year! Sign up and we can get our package to you, and should you choose, you can turn in your time! EVERY STEP IS OUR FIGHT!!! LET'S FIGHT TOGETHER THIS SEPTEMBER!

https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Canfield/TheChooseJoyforMelina5K

Thank you, Canfield Volleyball, for sharing our fight! Some games are just bigger than wins and losses. These games help...
08/13/2026

Thank you, Canfield Volleyball, for sharing our fight! Some games are just bigger than wins and losses. These games help children fight for joy. Together, we will get there! 💚🌈🏐 Fight for a cure, and let’s get three great wins along the way! Join us this Tuesday!

Thank you, Canfield Volleyball, for sharing our fight! Some games are just bigger than wins and losses. These games help...
08/13/2026

Thank you, Canfield Volleyball, for sharing our fight! Some games are just bigger than wins and losses. These games help children fight for joy. Together, we will get there! 💚🌈🏐 Fight for a cure, and let's get three great wins along the way! Join us this Tuesday!

This is what you enable us to be a part of us! This is change. This is funding. This is hope! This is how progress i...
08/12/2026

This is what you enable us to be a part of us! This is change. This is funding. This is hope! This is how progress is made. Thank you with all my heart for allowing us to fight! 💚🌈💚

It’s grant season. And this year, the DIPG/DMG Collaborative (we are a member of this international group) has 48 chances to cure cancer to consider. That’s over $9 million in total! But knowing that we do things different and we don’t just wait for grants to arrive at our door – instead we do the work to help establish collaborations, uncover specialties and incite BIG ideas. As a matter of fact, in this grant cycle, nearly 20% if our grants weren’t even a surprise because they were part of a 10-year strategy. That’s why we need your help to fund a CURE!

Overall, in the grants we had grants from around the world including 28 from the USA, 8 from Australia, 8 from Europe, 1 from Japan and 3 from other countries new to the research effort. We also had grants directed at several pediatric cancer categories including 32 for DIPG/DMG, 7 for Medulloblastoma and 9 from other pediatric brain cancers.
Stay tuned as we announce our BIG Fat Grant Project winner for $1 million and then our Homerun Grant winners for $100,000 to $200,000. BIG news ahead! Together we will get there!

We are finalizing our sponsorships for our upcoming Kids Event/5k. Every year people ask us to post! If you business ...
08/11/2026

We are finalizing our sponsorships for our upcoming Kids Event/5k. Every year people ask us to post! If you business would like to sponsor or even if you would like to do a family sponsorship let us know! Feel free to message us privately we can also accept Venmo! 💚🌈🌻 Every step is our fight.

Who is your WHY?This year, we want to create a Wall of JOY at our 5K! For a $50 donation, add your WHY to the wall for a...
08/10/2026

Who is your WHY?

This year, we want to create a Wall of JOY at our 5K! For a $50 donation, add your WHY to the wall for all to see.

We want to fight together!

I know my WHY, and I always will. But I also know that I run 4 Joy for the local families who give me a greater purpose. I run 4 Joy for my mom and the amazing warriors who continue to fight.
I run 4 Joy for my rainbows, for hope, and for a cure!

I can’t imagine a greater wall than one filled with all those who bring us JOY, who give us a reason to keep going, and everyone we can honor and fight for. You don't have to run to be on the wall of Joy. Share your person, so we can say their name, know your reason, and honor all the Joy there is. This race will always be about more than a run, this race, your donation are for a cure!

Please share and help us make this the greatest Wall of JOY there is! 💛 Fill the google link out below and venmo your donation for a cure!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqfggFcT3KW4gCYYFiGnUcuQR9lYZAzbRNnG8TNrVpLBB1yA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104756918247825898029

Lets start off the Joy with some of the fun! This Choose Joy Event, is more than just a race it is a family day! A day o...
08/06/2026

Lets start off the Joy with some of the fun! This Choose Joy Event, is more than just a race it is a family day! A day of endless fun, because Melina always said it was never enough!

We are so lucky to have Barber Drive Concessions, Graduation Tents and Confetti House with us again this year!!! These amazing businesses have been with us for the last six years. They give unconditional and we are forever grateful. They have donated year after year never asking anything in return. They make this event amazing from the endless bouncing fun to the best lemonade in town!! Thank you so much always!!!! Because of amazing vendors like these we are able to make this event all donation based! We are grateful for any support, but our greatest goal is to share our mission and JOY!!

September 13th from 2-6 at Canfield High School!

We are so grateful for every sponsor, every runner, and for the entire board of the Youngstown Marathon. Tonight we w...
08/06/2026

We are so grateful for every sponsor, every runner, and for the entire board of the Youngstown Marathon. Tonight we were the recipients of a 10,000 donation. We can promise this will be used to fight for a cure, together we will get there! And tonight Melina’s Joy made a difference. Thank you so much. 🌈💚

Keep your eyes on our foundation pages over the next few weeks! We'll be sharing sneak peeks of our upcoming Choose Joy ...
08/05/2026

Keep your eyes on our foundation pages over the next few weeks! We'll be sharing sneak peeks of our upcoming Choose Joy event.

It's a 5K if you choose. It's a day for families if you choose. And it you can't make it in person, you can always choose our virtual 5K! No matter how you participate, this September 13, we ask that you Choose Joy.

This event is the heart of our foundation. It's made possible by the incredible small businesses that show up and donate their time, talents, and support to spread joy. Because of these amazing businesses, our sponsors, and every one of you who chooses joy, we're able to keep fighting for other families.
Our mission continues to grow, and together, we'll get there.

Along the way, there will always be one very special girl who inspires us and reminds us that the only way we'll find a cure is by choosing Joy together!

Address

P. O. Box 34
Canfield, OH
44406

Website

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