Magic for Maddie

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Magic for Maddie

She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes. 💜 Now, they need our help. Nora immediately left her teaching position to support Maddie full-time.

Originally from Holyoke, Greg & Nora Schmidt are raising their 3 beautiful children, Will (13), Patrick (11) and Maddie (7) in Southampton. They are active members of the Norris & Hampshire Regional school communities as well as the Southampton Youth Athletic Association and have done so much to give back to others throughout the years, never expecting or wanting anything in return. In February, t

heir world was turned upside down when Maddie was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer. Maddie underwent a biopsy at Boston Children's Hospital, six weeks of radiation at Baystate and will now proceed with a clinical trial through Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Maddie has handled all of this with grace and hope and inspires us all every day. She is joy and happiness and, in that spirit, we want to give her a day that represents all the light she brings to our world! Please join us on Sunday, September 11 at Ashley Reservoir for Magic for Maddie, a 5K Run/2 Mile Family Fun Walk & Carnival. The day promises to be fun-filled for the whole family including food trucks, music, bounce houses, obstacle courses, a raffle and so much more! Register at www.magicformaddie.com. We also invite you to join us as a family or business sponsor, participate in our raffle, or make a gift online. Although our primary focus right now is supporting the Schmidts, we are forever grateful to the many families who have taken on this fight before us and paved the way for Maddie's trial. Maddie has many opportunities and trial options thanks to family foundations and it is important to Greg & Nora that a portion of event proceeds will be given back to the larger pediatric brain cancer community. Your generous support will go a long way for Maddie as well as other children bravely fighting this battle today.

06/05/2026

One of the most meaningful ways Magic for Maddie impacts our local community is through scholarships awarded to students who embody Maddie's spirit of kindness, tenacity, compassion, and heart.

In addition to the Maddie Schmidt Memorial Scholarship at Hampshire Regional High School awarded this year to Rachel O'Connell, we are honored to support young dancers and athletes through scholarships at Hackworth School of Performing Arts, Roots Gymnastics Center, and Riley's School of Dance.

💜 Congratulations to our 2026 recipients:

✨ Colleen Hearn – Hackworth School of Performing Arts
Colleen is not only a talented dancer, but an exceptional young woman. Kind, humble, compassionate, and endlessly supportive of those around her, she is a trusted friend, outstanding teammate, mentor, and role model. Her grace, positivity, and genuine care for others reflect so much of the light Maddie shared with the world.

✨ Tessa Burke – Roots Gymnastics
A Hampshire Regional senior, Tessa has been part of the Roots family for 15 years and has served as both an athlete and instructor. While she will be greatly missed, we are excited to watch her pursue her dreams at High Point University. Tessa's dedication, leadership, and commitment to others make her a wonderful recipient of this award.

✨ Natalia Rivera and Jaidyn Tetreault – Riley's School of Dance
Natalia will attend the University of Hartford this fall to pursue nursing, while Jaidyn will begin her studies at ACC before continuing to Elms College's accelerated psychology program. Both young women were selected for their caring nature, willingness to help others, and their commitment to giving back. As members of this year's Sparkle Crew, they exemplified the kindness and service that Maddie lived every day.

To each of these remarkable young women: thank you for carrying Maddie's legacy forward. We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see the difference you make in the world. ✨💜

06/04/2026

Today is “Double Your Donation Day” at Bikes Fight Cancer!

Thanks to an incredible partnership with Gary Rome Hyundai and Hyundai Hope On Wheels, every donation made on June 4 to Bikes Fight Cancer participants will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $7,500.

And since all Team Magic for Maddie funds will ALSO receive an additional match & directly support DIPG research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, there has never been a better time to maximize your impact to our team or your favorite rider! 💜💚🚴

www.magicformaddie.com/bikes-fight-cancer

06/03/2026

✨ Congratulations to Rachel O’Connell, recipient of the 2026 Maddie Schmidt Memorial Scholarship! ✨

This scholarship honors a graduating Hampshire Regional High School senior who embodies Maddie’s spirit of kindness, compassion, courage, and heart.

Selected through nominations from teachers and school staff, Rachel was recognized for her positivity, integrity, and genuine care for others. As she begins her journey at Westfield State University pursuing a career in nursing, we know she will continue making a difference wherever she goes.

Congratulations, Rachel! Thank you for carrying Maddie’s sparkle forward. 💜✨

05/20/2026

💜 Each May, Brain Tumor Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to step back, reflect on how far we’ve come, and look ahead with hope for the future. 💜

Together, thanks to your generosity in 2025, Magic for Maddie:
✨ Supported groundbreaking DIPG research
✨ Provided direct financial assistance to families battling pediatric cancer
✨ Invested in local nonprofits and community partnerships
✨ Helped bring more hope to families navigating the unimaginable

There is still so much work ahead, but because of supporters like YOU, there is real momentum — and a little magic — helping light the way forward.

Thank you for believing in our mission, standing beside our families, and helping us leave a little sparkle wherever it’s needed most. ✨

05/17/2026

Today, on DIPG Awareness Day, we honor the brave children and families facing one of the most devastating pediatric cancers imaginable.

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) steals childhoods far too quickly, yet these children continue to teach the world about courage, resilience, love, and hope. 💜

At Magic for Maddie, our mission is fueled by the belief that every child deserves more time, more options, and more hope. We remain committed to funding critical research, supporting families through unimaginable challenges, and spreading light in the darkest moments.

Today we remember the children we have lost, stand beside the families still fighting, and raise our voices for greater awareness, funding, and progress.

Because these children deserve more than statistics.
They deserve breakthroughs.
They deserve magic. ✨💜

05/08/2026

There is something so special about the incredible community rallying behind sweet Charlotte and her family. 💜✨

Charlotte is bravely fighting DIPG — the same devastating battle our Maddie faced — and from the moment Team "Charlotte’s Got This" joined our 5K & Carnival, they have brought so much strength, love, and inspiration to our community.

In March, Charlotte’s family celebrated her 3rd birthday in the most meaningful way possible — by turning their celebration into an opportunity to give back. Through special t-shirt sales, this amazing crew raised an incredible $1,500 for Magic for Maddie to help other families fighting childhood cancer.

To Charlotte’s family, friends, and everyone standing beside this beautiful little girl: thank you. Your love, resilience, and unwavering support for Charlotte are inspiring beyond words. Watching so many people rally around her with hope, strength, and compassion is pure magic.

Charlotte, you are one strong, beautiful little warrior, and we are honored to stand beside you in this fight. Happy 3rd Birthday & You Got This! 💜

05/06/2026

Two annual May events have come to mean the world to all of us at Magic for Maddie. Please join us to honor Brittney & Heather. 💜💛☘️

Bands for Brittney celebrates Brittney Bliss, a brave little girl from South Hadley. After we lost Maddie and decided to begin our own foundation, Brittney’s family was one of the very first that we had the honor to support. Brittney's heroic battle against Rhadomyosarcoma ultimately inspired our mission to support local families in the fight against all forms of childhood cancer. We were devastated when Brittney passed away in June 2023 at just 5 years old.

Since then, that shared heartbreak between Brittney's parents, Elena & Brian, & our family has grown into a deep friendship and a united front in the fight against childhood cancer. We have walked this unimaginable road together—honoring our girls by supporting each other’s foundations, traveling to Washington, D.C. to advocate for more childhood cancer research funding, and even creating a local support circle for the “worst club ever”: moms who have lost children far too soon.

We hope to see you Saturday at Bands for Brittney, https://givebutter.com/Bands4Brittney2026

Storming The Greens honors Heather McMahon, a beloved Holyoke daughter, sister, cousin & friend who we lost to glioblastoma in 2017 at only 30 years old. Growing up in Holyoke with the McMahons and their extended family, we have always been inspired by the way they continue Heather’s legacy, funding critical brain cancer research. But, we never could have imagined how our worlds would intersect battling this horrific disease.

When Maddie was first diagnosed, Storming the Greens sent our family our first, incredibly generous and meaningful, gift. It was so unexpected but a godsend, and as we would learn it is simply what Holyoke does for Holyoke. That kindness became part of the spark that inspired us to keep paying it forward. We look forward to golfing & celebrating Heather's incredible life on Saturday May 16.

Please join us this May at Bands for Brittney and Storming the Greens as we honor these beautiful girls, support the families carrying their legacies forward, and continue turning heartbreak into hope.

05/02/2026

So much fun supporting the Foundation for TJO Animals at the Jack Rome Memorial 5K with our Ringleader Sponsor Gary Rome Hyundai & Hyundai Hope On Wheels today! 🐾💜

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Holyoke, MA
01040

Website

http://www.magicformaddie.com/

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