The Lilabean Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research

08/30/2026

🎟️ 15 DAYS UNTIL FALL BALL TICKETS GO ON SALE

Starting today, we're counting down to Fall Ball — 15 stories in 15 days, marking 15 years of the Lilabean Foundation Fall Ball, leading right up to the moment tickets go on sale. We're starting where it all began. Back in 2016, our president and founder Nicole Giroux shared the moment the Lilabean Foundation was born:

"The day or two after we got home from the hospital after Lila was diagnosed, I remember saying to Mike, ' Now I know what my purpose is. I have to do something. We have to do something to fight this disease. We have to raise money from the get-go. We wanted one hundred percent of the funds to go to research."

That same purpose still drives Fall Ball today. All proceeds go toward finding better treatments for kids fighting pediatric brain cancer.

Tickets to the 15th Annual Fall Ball go on sale September 14. Follow along over the next 15 days as we look back at the stories that built this community, and check back tomorrow for Day 14. 💛

08/17/2026

Tickets are officially ON SALE for the LBF Hope Celebration!🎉

Join us on Saturday, September 19, at BabyCat Brewery in Kensington for an afternoon of community, hope, and celebration, all in support of pediatric brain cancer research.

Grab your tickets now and be part of a night that makes a real difference. 💛

🎟️ https://pro.gofundme.com/event/2026-lbf-hope-celebration/e821987

08/16/2026

On this day one year ago, we said goodbye to Kasey. Her four-year fight against medulloblastoma asked more of her than any child should have to give, but through it all, her light never dimmed.

This year, that light has fueled real progress. Kasey would be so proud of what her name is building. Thank you to everyone who continues to walk this road with .

We miss you Kasey 💙

08/15/2026

Today marks one year since we said goodbye to our Hero, Reed. Diagnosed with a high-grade glioma at just four and a half years old, Reed faced three years of surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy with endless joy and optimism. He spent countless hours as an avid reader at Children’s National and Sibley Memorial during treatment, and he adored being a big brother to his younger sibling, Graham.

Reed’s story continues help drive innovations in pediatric brain tumor research, and his impact continues to leave marks on our heart. Today, we remember Reed’s light and the joy he brought to everyone around him 💛

https://www.lilabeanfoundation.com/reed-heggie

08/11/2026

This photo says everything.

Kasey and her grandfather Jay Spitulnik, side by side, building something together.

This weekend marks one year since we lost our LBF Hero Kasey. In her memory, Jay has written something we believe every heart needs to read. It's a grandfather's reflection on grief, pride, love, and hope — and why the research we fund together matters more than words can say.

Click the link below to reach "Memories from a Hero's Grandpa." 🌈 https://www.lilabeanfoundation.com/memories-from-a-hero-s-grandpa

08/07/2026

We are honored to be a partner of the PNOC Foundation and fund trials that drive research for kids battling brain cancer 💛

The Lilabean Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research has been a steadfast partner of PNOC, united by a shared commitment to advancing innovative research for children with brain tumors. Over the years, the foundation has supported groundbreaking science with one goal in mind: bringing better treatment options to children and families who urgently need them.

Most recently, the Lilabean Foundation helped advance PNOC041 and PNOC044, two clinical trials exploring new uses for well-established medicines in children with recurrent brain tumors. By investigating whether existing therapies can be safely and effectively repurposed, these studies aim to accelerate the development of new treatment options while building on medicines clinicians already know well. It's an approach that reflects both scientific rigor and the urgency families face when time matters most.

As the Lilabean Foundation shared with us, "Supporting PNOC means funding science that moves fast enough to matter for kids who can't wait. Trials like PNOC044 and PNOC041 turn existing, trusted medicines into new hope for children facing relapsed brain tumors, and that's exactly the kind of impact the Lilabean Foundation is proud to be part of."

We are deeply grateful for the Lilabean Foundation's longstanding partnership and their continued investment in research that is collaborative, innovative, and focused on delivering better outcomes for children with brain tumors.

08/05/2026

✨ Save the Date! ✨

The 2026 LBF Hope Celebration is coming and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate with you!

📅 Saturday, September 19 (Rain date: September 26)
🕒 3–6 PM
📍 BabyCat Brewery, Kensington, MD

Join us for an afternoon of community, live music, local vendors, and the Raffle for Hope — all in support of the LBF Fellowship Fund, which develops the next generation of pediatric brain cancer researchers. 🎗️

🎟️ Tickets on sale August 17!

Together, we can make a difference during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Stay tuned for details!

07/31/2026

The first time Kelly Barch walked into Herson's Honda, she drove away in her first car. This time, she walked in to change lives.

This May, Herson's Honda became the inaugural partner for our Drive for Hope campaign, donating $100 for every vehicle sold. The result? $20,000 raised for pediatric brain cancer research in a single month. 💛

"Businesses don't have to reinvent philanthropy to make a meaningful impact." — Kelly Barch, Executive Director

Read Kelly's full story here https://www.lilabeanfoundation.com/driving-hope-coming-full-circle

07/30/2026

Today we celebrate the girl whose light never dimmed — through 10 surgeries, 45 proton radiation treatments, and a fight that showed the world what true courage looks like.

Kasey, you would be turning 11 today, and we feel her impact in every step we take toward better treatments for kids with Medulloblastoma. Her legacy lives on through the Kasey Zachmann Fund for Medulloblastoma Research, fueling the science that gives future children a fighting chance.

Want to honor Kasey today? Here are a few ways to celebrate her spirit:
🩸 Sign up to donate blood in her honor
🎵 Turn on some Gwen Stefani and jam out
🌈 Make art (bonus points if you add in a rainbow)
💛 Pass on an act of kindness to someone around you

To and everyone who carries her memory forward... thank you. Happy birthday, Kasey, you are forever in our hearts.

07/29/2026

Back to school + giving back = ✨

Shop Minted's back-to-school necessities like labels, notes & stationery and save 20%, with 10% going to LBF and our mission to fund pediatric brain cancer research.

Use code FUNDRAISELILABEAN at checkout. Because every school supply can make a difference. 💛🎒

https://www.minted.com/