Kyrie Foundation

04/07/2026

Oh, heavenly day. 🩷

The Day the Angels Came a grandpa's prayer and poem for Kyrie Dawn Wednesday, April 4, the day we heard of the explosive growth of the tumor...

01/25/2025

This is devastating. Please read.

January 24, 2025 – The reported pause in public communication and the grant review process at the National Institutes of Health is a worrying sign for the pediatric brain tumor community. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is monitoring the situation and remains committed to advocating for the f...

07/08/2024

We are still in a fair amount of disbelief that one of our first and most ardent supporters is no longer with us.

From the earliest days of the Kyrie Foundation, Rita Frakes was all in. Her enthusiastic and consistent energy behind the cause was an immense source of inspiration to those trying to get a fledgling nonprofit on its feet. Her presence, her ideas, her voice, her talent, her friends all swelled into momentum, awareness and donations for a tiny, grassroots group trying to save children from brain cancer.

Rita organized softball fundraisers, she started a golf tournament and designed the t-shirt, she painted faces at the Twilight Walks, she dressed up as Eggbert and Elf Rita year after year to deliver toys with Susan Jae Eckel to children at Wesley Medical Center, she called the media to alert them to foundation events, she made her students and athletes aware of the foundation and invited them to spread support through fundraising and awareness-raising. Her kids helping other kids is still something that moves us beyond words.

What's more is that she was helping families fight against pediatric brain cancer while she herself was fighting her own cancer. There's a masterclass in philanthropy for us if we've ever seen one.

Rita will always, always be an integral part of our story.

In this line of work, we are all too familiar with good-byes.

But we also know, and it's been proven, that love is stronger than death.

This is not the end, not by a long shot. We imagine she's laughing with pure joy and giving Kyrie a big hug for us. Maybe even playing some catch with her.

Until we play together again, coach, we'll keep loving your championship heart. ❤️

04/07/2024

The love is still here.

The Day the Angels Came a grandpa's prayer and poem for Kyrie Dawn Wednesday, April 4, the day we heard of the explosive growth of the tumor...

05/17/2023

05/05/2023

May is National Brain Cancer Awareness Month. I’ve always felt like “awareness” is such a bu****it word. Oh, we are all aware of brain cancer. Maybe, we should substitute “action” instead of awareness.
To take action can mean lots of things, post a brain cancer meme on social media..free & easy. If you know some one dealing with this monstrous disease, take them a meal, some cookies, a gift card. Or mail a thinking-of-you card. You can donate to a charity that does research, volunteer for a fundraiser, buy a t-shirt. Donate to a legitimate charity.
I’m more involved with pediatric brain cancer, but the devastation and pain inflicted on a family is the same, child or adult.
Just do something other than silence, I’m begging you......DO SOMETHING.

03/12/2023

Look at this sweet boy! His name is Archer, and he was diagnosed with t-cell lymphoma/leukemia in November. He’s on his second round of chemotherapy, and we are praying Archie can get back to his sweet ornery self soon! Please go to Archie’s page, Archer the Warrior and follow and like and send him some love ❤️

09/01/2022

Happy birthday, Kyrie! Grateful every day for your time with us. 💗💗💗

Happy earthly birthday in heaven, sweet Kyrie! Typing 17 seems like a strange mistake, imagining little you as a nearly grown you. We see yo...