06/30/2026
If you followed along during this year's Big Slick Celebrity Weekend, then you probably met Piper - one of the brightest stars of the entire weekend.
Many of you first met her when she fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a DJ on 90.9 The Bridge , where she interviewed Eric Stonestreet and others with the confidence, curiosity and joy that instantly won everyone over.
When Piper asked Eric why Big Slick was important to him, his answer said it all:
"You're the reason. I get to meet people like you... you inspire me so much."
When asked by Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers (one of Piper's favorite bands) if DJ'ing felt natural, Piper smiled and said:
"It's definitely scary... I think nothing feels natural on your first day."
The rest of the world got to meet Piper when Al Roker shared her story on the Today Show. Her smile, her spirit and her infectious enthusiasm reminded all of us exactly why this weekend exists.
It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share that Piper lost her battle with cancer this week.
Our thoughts are with Piper's family, her friends, and the extraordinary doctors, nurses and staff at Children's Mercy who cared for and loved her throughout her journey.
Everyone who had the privilege of meeting Piper will remember the joy she brought into every room. Whether she was behind a microphone, answering questions on camera, or graciously accepting compliments about her incredible DJ skills, she made everyone around her smile.
Piper is also a reminder of why Big Slick exists.
Every dollar raised through Big Slick helps Children's Mercy continue caring for remarkable kids like Piper while pushing forward the research that will one day make stories like hers far less common.
And to the amazing team at CMH, we think Piper summed it up best when talking about her nurses with Eric:
"The nurses here are my best friends... the nurses have made this livable."
We couldn't agree more.
Thank you to Al Roker and the TODAY team for sharing Piper's story, to the incredible team at CMH, and to everyone who continues to support Big Slick and its mission.
Piper inspired all of us. We will carry her smile, her courage and her joy with us. π