Cannonballs for Kayne

12/02/2025

Every dollar you give brings comfort, joy, and hope to families facing the unthinkable: pediatric brain cancer (DIPG/DMG). Because of you, we’re able to lift up parents, kids, teens, and young adults through nurse navigation, research initiatives, and compassionate patient-care programs.
Donate 💵 | Support 🎗️| Share 📲
cannonballs.org
(Link in bio)

11/26/2025

Full of grace and gratitude, Cannonballs for Kayne is very thankful for the kindness, encouragement and support we receive each week from family, friends and followers. Notes and messages remind us of how special Kayne’s life was and how impactful it is to others. ✨💜💛

Kayne’s vision lives on since 2017 and continues to be a blessing to many in the US and around the world. Honestly, it leaves us speechless at times and in complete awe of what God has done to assist us in paying it forward! It is a privilege of our family’s to faithfully carry out Kayne’s dream to raise support and awareness for DIPG/DMG and inspire others. 🌎

Donations received go directly to pediatric brain tumor research, patient care facilities at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA, and to families in financial need. Cannonballs is a founding partner of My DIPG Navigator, a DIPG/DMG nurse navigator program offering one-on-one support for newly diagnosed patients and families. 🎗️

Many foundations no longer offer family financial assistance grants because of the overwhelming need. The Lord has always provided for our ability to fulfill the requests that come to us. This is a testimony to our faithful donors and supporters, good stewardship and generosity. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We cannot do this without you and appreciate you! 🙏🥰💫

With gratitude, love and hope, our family wishes you a blessed and happy thanksgiving season.
The Finleys
🙏💛💣💦

Founder, Kayne Finley, 1999-2017
Learn more, watch videos, donate @ Cannonballs.org

Cannonballs for Kayne Foundation, Inc. is a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 81-4983450, PO Box 1738, Ormond Beach, FL 32175.

For inquiries email: [email protected]

11/26/2025

Full of grace and gratitude, Cannonballs for Kayne is very thankful for the kindness, encouragement and support we receive each week from family, friends and followers. Notes and messages remind us of how special Kayne’s life was and how impactful it is to others. ✨💜💛

Kayne’s vision lives on since 2017 and continues to be a blessing to many in the US and around the world. Honestly, it leaves us speechless at times and in complete awe of what God has done to assist us in paying it forward! It is a privilege of our family’s to faithfully carry out Kayne’s dream to raise support and awareness for DIPG/DMG and inspire others. 🌎

Donations received go directly to pediatric brain tumor research, patient care facilities on the oncology floor at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA and to families in financial need. Cannonballs is a founding partner of My DIPG Navigator, a DIPG/DMG nurse navigator program offering one-on-one support for newly diagnosed patients and families. 🎗️

Our Cannonballs Cares program has provided assistance grants to over 75 families since its inception, 7 this year and 5 more pending verification before the year end. Working closely with social workers, we encourage the grant recipients to use all or a portion of the grant funds for comfort and joy to the child, teen or young adult. 💸

We suggest purchasing toys, games or soft clothing, taking a small family trip, throwing a special party, getting a new pillow or having their favorite foods and treats rather than paying it all toward regular household expenses. Although we know sometimes a mortgage or rent payment is due or late and that is what the funds are used for, the grant is intended to be of benefit to the patient. 🧸🪁🍭

Over the years, we have learned of families having a pool party at a hotel in winter, buying a coveted toy, a new pillow, making special foods and unfortunately, even helping to prepay toward funeral expenses.

Many foundations no longer offer family financial assistance grants because of the overwhelming need. The Lord has always provided for our ability to fulfill the requests that come to us. This is a testimony to our faithful donors and supporters, good stewardship and generosity. Every dollar counts and we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. We cannot do this without you and appreciate you! 🙏🥰💫

With gratitude, love and hope, our family wishes you a blessed and happy thanksgiving season.
The Finleys
🙏💛💣💦

Founder, Kayne Finley, 1999-2017
Learn more, watch videos, donate @ Cannonballs.org

Cannonballs for Kayne Foundation, Inc. is a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 81-4983450, PO Box 1738, Ormond Beach, FL 32175.

For inquiries email: [email protected]

11/24/2025

✨ Kayne Finley Remembrance Day 2025 ✨

Walk Quietly 🤫💟🥹
Is there such a thing as rationing sadness? Like knowing a day is coming that you are going to be sad about, so you start getting sad about it ahead of its due. Such that when the day comes it might not be so bad for you? Perhaps it is how the mind trains the body to manage future physiological responses so they are not so painful — the innate fight or flight feeling and mental decision-making gymnastics.

Sadness, melancholy or grief, whichever word you choose, comes in waves still — an auto response of my body before my mind can click into gear — when my body starts to sweat and dread creeps in. I am paralyzed and gripped with not wanting to move forward. Not wanting to participate in activities or talk to people. These moments force me to relive past scenes and traumatic scenarios I do not want to recall and yet still do with such vivid ferver it seems impossible to severe the thread of thinking about it.

And now, today, the god-awful milestone of 8 years of living with the daily personal choice of ‘walking quietly’ within myself and rationing my sadness without our Kayne, I am able to breathe deeper with a thick salve over my whole heart.

Getting to this point has come at a high and worthy cost — a cost that has taken much time to do deep, deep personal work. Daily meditation and exercise along with healthier choices for myself have played significant parts in my body’s better responses now. What used to take hours for recovery became 20-30 minutes and now can take just 20-30 seconds for my mind to calm my body down. I am proof positive it is possible to heal your mind for your body’s sake.

It is because of concentrated and consistent personal work and self-care (not self-medication) I can confidently say in remembrance of our sweet Kayne I have developed an even stronger foundation of gratitude, thankfulness and forgiveness for his short life of just 18 years. In my relationship with God I have a furthered foundation that circumstances cannot ever shake. I am thankful to God that the Holy Spirit has been working in me to grow and go through life’s hard moments instead of around difficult times. I am working on allowing the Holy Spirit to work in me and soften my outwardness, letting life’s good shine light from me again and for others to experience me as more approachable, likable and lovable (as Kayne was and would want me to be).

Phony Baloney 😉🤞😂
With that… Does human personality survive physical death? This is different than the idea of ‘will they remember me when I’m gone.’ This is about one’s family legacy, the humanness of memories and how much one’s personality stays with us after they are dead. It goes without saying we will remember the person after they are no longer here on earth. What will be remembered though? The physical traits of the person. The sparkle in their eye. The profound words they said. The dumb things they sometimes did. When death is acute we seemingly remember and miss every little thing. When our senses have dulled somewhat, we are left with remembering ‘what they were like.’

Kayne was a child in a man’s body. At 6’4” he had a long and lean build. Full of giggles, he liked to joke sarcastically and teased others a lot. We sometimes would call ‘phony baloney’ only to learn whatever he was saying was actually true. And the joke was still on us. He could challenge your point of view on a world or local issue and make you realize things you hadn’t previously thought about. Politics weren’t really his thing but he enjoyed current events and would engage in point, counter-point debates. Kayne was strong-willed and had a temper he learned to mature. He softened in his final months of life when realizing his mission was far more than himself. He found God and transformed into a Christian at the age of 18. Then a man and yet a sweet, innocent boy whose life was taken from us before we all were remotely ready.

I hope to see Kayne’s human personality survive him in the future lives of our children and grandchildren as well as extended family and friends. With the addition to Keagan and Kendra’s family, Wells Kayne has a new baby brother — Callum Crew. We can surmise the physical traits of each child and only wonder and dream of which personality traits they will receive and display from their Uncle Kayne in Heaven.

Stretch in Wonder 🌎☄️🙌
Life has a way of presenting crossroads for us. I feel as though I am at another major one of those places again in my life. So much so that it takes me back to family mantras and our rules for living. These are not cliche nor were they developed in jest. Our family had to snap up and get it together after receiving the devastating diagnoses for our Kayne of pediatric brain cancer — DIPG (now DMG). There was no time to waste and life was to be lived to fullest without regrets. With The Lord on our side we lived boldly and with confidence. Not walking gingerly. Demanding gold standards for treatment plans, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and embracing each moment with one another for the betterment of our sweet and precious son and brother Kayne. We did all we could for you brother because we love you.

Our rules for living were simple. Plan the day for what you have to do, what will help you do it and what fun you want to do. Then, adjust as necessary based on how you feel. If you have to cut something out, decide what and move on without remorse. In practice this was ‘stretching in wonder’ to see what was possible. Time slowed down for us. We could accomplish so much more than imaginable some days. Kayne could wake up, feed Dementor the Moose, go to class, have lunch with a friend, go shopping and still meet at the quad for a music event and NOT be tired. Why? Because God was on his side. He believed. WE believed. We continue to believe now.

It is not enough to believe in God. It is about believing God for the promises He makes to us. And remember:
✨Family First
✨Find Joy
✨Just Live

Kayne,
Your extraordinary works continue through Cannonballs for Kayne Foundation thanks to loyal and appreciated donors, enabling us to make grants to families in financial distress, provide research funding and maintain patient care facilities at the children’s hospital in Baton Rouge just as you had envisioned. We are ever grateful to provide this support and continue your mission. Your life story personified, Kayne, is one of inspiration and light and a beacon of hope to the world.

I miss seeing those ice blue eyes of yours and I will never let the sound of your laughter fade from my heart. We are living with joy in our lives because of you. And, we hope we are making you proud. We miss you every day! 🙏💛💣💦
Love always,
Mom (Kirsten)

Cannonballs.org
PO Box 1738
Ormond Beach, FL 32175

Together, we are making waves! Thank you.
Donate and learn more @ cannonballs.org
Founder, Kayne Finley, 1999-2017
🙏💛💣💦

For more information about our grant programs or questions about our charity work, please reach out to us @ [email protected] or call/text Kirsten Ransom Finley.



“Lord in Heaven, in every faith walk I encounter, keep working with me until You can victoriously boast, “You believe at last!” John 16:31

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

09/03/2025

Your 26th Birthday, Kayne. 💟
It’s taken me all day to figure out what I wanted to share on your heavenly birthday, Kayne. We’ve had quite the week leading up to this day!

Over the weekend we attended your LSU roommate’s beautiful wedding in Kentwood, La. The weather was perfect and the venue was gorgeous. There were lots of happy tears seeing everyone and we talked about the impact you’ve made on their lives. I know you were there watching down with joy and blessing their marriage and future together. It was so sweet. 🌸

Then we had the good fortune to drive to Baton Rouge and stay a couple of days with our Simon Family. The campus streets haven’t changed and we spent time remembering where you had classes and places we would park to get you, Dementor the Moose and your scooter out each day for class. I still recall lifting that thing in and out of the Suburban. Whew! We drove by Blake Hall, the pool and of course the Vet Center and Mike the Tiger’s habitat. He wasn’t out but we enjoyed seeing your engraved brick as part of the walkway.

We met up with all of our friends here last night at one of your favorites — Superior — and then stayed up way to late talking and catching up on all the latest things with family and mutual friends. 🥤

Tonight to celebrate you, we went to another favorite restaurant of yours — Chimes. We ordered your favorite spinach and artichoke dip with the fried bow tie pasta and boudin balls. So delicious! We toasted to you and thanked the Lord for blessing us with 18 years of you in our lives. We miss you so much! And just know you are going to be rooting for those Tigers this football season, just like us. 🐅

With love, happy birthday, our sweet and precious son and friend, Kayne! Until we are reunited, we will carry on your legacy and help others through Cannonballs for Kayne.

I wish you were here! XO — Love, Mom ❌⭕️💟

NOTE: If you feel led to donate toward supporting families and funding research for pediatric brain cancer, DIPG, please visit and donate online at cannonballs.org. 🙏💛💣💦

PHOTO: Kirsten, Curtis and Kayne Finley with Dementor the Moose after Kayne spoke with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards to advocate for pediatric brain cancer and DIPG patients and funding support.
Baton Rouge, 2017

06/21/2025

Each donation and supporter means the world to us here at Cannonballs for Kayne! Thank you so much! And, a special thank you to Daytona Area Scrapbooking and Tara Clark O'Gorman for their unwavering support of our foundation to further the mission of Kayne Finley. Together in May we raised over $4,000 for children, teens and young adults who are battling DIPG / DMG brain cancer. 🙏💛💣💦

As part of the fundraiser donors gave $100 for us to do a cannonball and shout out on Facebook. This video proves that we love to have fun while making a splash and waves for our cause!

Not sure what we are all about, learn more at Cannonballs.org. Wishing all of you blessings this summer. If we can assist you or a loved one, please reach out.

Cannonballs.org
PO Box 1738
Ormond Beach, FL 32175

Together, we are making waves! Thank you.
Donate and learn more @ cannonballs.org
Founder, Kayne Finley, 1999-2017
🙏💛💣💦

For more information about our grant programs or questions about our charity work, please reach out to us @ [email protected] or call/text Kirsten Ransom Finley at 386-888-4017.

05/10/2025

Sponsor a Cannonball in the month of May!

May is Brain Tumor awareness month. Your contributions go to help families in financial distress, patient care facilities, the DIPG nurse navigator program and research. 🩵

Cannonballs.org

This May, you can make a difference by sponsoring a Cannonball for the families battling brain cancer. Kayne's Mama and Cannonballs For Kayne Board Member, Tara O'Gorman, will be making one cannonball splash for each $100 donation! Join us at Cannonballs for Kayne, a DIPG foundation dedicated to sup...

05/02/2025

And one day everything changed.💔 That day was in November 2016 learning our son Kayne had terminal brain cancer — DIPG.

To learn more about Kayne and donate to the Cannonballs for Kayne Foundation, visit cannonballs.org.

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. 🩶🩶🩶

Thank you for your continued generosity andd support.

01/19/2025

Hooray! The weather cooperated and it was beautiful for today’s Daytona Beach Kiwanis 2nd Annual Duck Race in the Halifax River. It was our first year participating as a team and we reached a milestone of swimming 150 ducks! Raising $750 for our team, our charity will receive $300 to further our mission.

We’re so grateful to everyone who made an effort to come out and support our local children in need through Kiwanis and the Cannonballs for Kayne Foundation’s vision to serve families afflicted by DIPG / DMG in dire financial distress, fund research and patient care facilities and provide comfort and joy packages to local families in treatment living in Volusia County, Florida.

If you missed your opportunity to buy a duck and want to make a donation to support our mission, please visit cannonballs.org.

Stay tuned for the next local event in the greater Daytona Beach area we will be attending in February so you can make plans to stop by our booth.

Let’s continue to spread the word about pediatric brain cancer and other debilitating childhood cancers. Together we will MAKE WAVES! 🙏💛💣💦

01/16/2025

How many ducks can you get in a row? 🦆🦆🦆 Buy your ducks here: https://www.duckrace.com/daytonabeach/teams/14163. Come see us at our booth!

If you are a cancer survivor, stop by our booth for a special surprise. 💝
💛 Kirsten

Quack quack! 🦆 Buy your ducks and get ready to race! 🏁 On Saturday, January 18, 2024, Cannonballs for Kayne is partnering with Daytona Beach Kiwanis for an awesome community event at Jackie Robinson Ballpark and Stadium. Every duck purchased helps local children and supports our foundation with a giveback from a portion of the duck sales. Buy your ducks here to support Cannonballs for Kayne: https://www.duckrace.com/daytonabeach/teams/14163.

Oh, and, we will have a booth set up for visitors to learn about us! 💛 Be sure to come see us if you are a cancer survivor. We will have a special surprise for you. Let’s spread the word on how our foundation has been helping families and spreading joy and comfort with children, teens and young adults affected by DIPG/DMG brain cancer and other pediatric cancers for over 7 years.

Make plans to come out and see us! The race is at 1 pm. You do not need to be present to win. See you there! ☺️
Kirsten Finley
Kayne’s Mom and President
cannonballs.org
PO Box 1738
Ormond Beach, FL 32175
EIN: 81-4983450
Nonprofit 501(c)(3)

01/16/2025

Quack quack! 🦆 Buy your ducks and get ready to race! 🏁 On Saturday, January 18, 2024, Cannonballs for Kayne is partnering with Daytona Beach Kiwanis for an awesome community event at Jackie Robinson Ballpark and Stadium. Every duck purchased helps local children and supports our foundation with a giveback from a portion of the duck sales. Buy your ducks here to support Cannonballs for Kayne: https://www.duckrace.com/daytonabeach/teams/14163.

Oh, and, we will have a booth set up for visitors to learn about us! 💛 Be sure to come see us if you are a cancer survivor. We will have a special surprise for you. Let’s spread the word on how our foundation has been helping families and spreading joy and comfort with children, teens and young adults affected by DIPG/DMG brain cancer and other pediatric cancers for over 7 years.

Make plans to come out and see us! The race is at 1 pm. You do not need to be present to win. See you there! ☺️
Kirsten Finley
Kayne’s Mom and President
cannonballs.org
PO Box 1738
Ormond Beach, FL 32175
EIN: 81-4983450
Nonprofit 501(c)(3)

12/25/2024

Wishing you and yours an abundance of BLESSINGS this Christmas Season! 🙏💛💣😇

PRAYER 🎄 SUPPORT 🎄 AWARENESS

Always amazed at the ongoing support, 7 years strong now. One thing that really humbles us on The Cannonballs Team is when the smallest of donations come in. This week we have had donations of $2.00, $3.50 and $5.00. To us, these are the largest because we understand the decision-making that likely goes into pressing that button to donate. We love the unity these amounts represent in finding a cure for DIPG! Thank you for believing in us!

Our team is blessed to have donations from the USA and abroad, in far away places like Madrid, Brazil and Germany. We are all on the same team! Individually making ripples in the water; together, MAKING WAVES! 💛💦🌊

Merry Christmas! 🙏🎄🎁🎅

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” Luke‬ ‭2:13-14‬ ‬‬

Love and hugs, The Finleys
(Keagan, Curtis, Kirsten, Kendra, Wells and our Angel Kayne)

Oops! Son of a Nutcracker! Did you forget something? Oh yeah, support research. Got it! Donate in 2024 and 2025! 💂‍♀️💛🎗

By check, send by: Dec 27
Online by: Dec 31

Cannonballs.org
Cannonballs for Kayne Foundation
PO Box 1738
Ormond Beach, FL 32175