More than 500 bright orange monarch butterflies fluttered into a clear blue sky May 5 to mark the fourth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day, a collaboration between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the CERN Foundation.
St. Jude co-hosted the event, which is designed to raise awareness about ependymoma—a rare cancer of the brain or spinal cord that affects both children and adults. The Collaborative Ependymoma Research Network (CERN) is a dedicated group of scientists and adult and pediatric neuro-oncologists working in concert to find a cure for ependymoma.
Symbolizing hope through change, the butterfly release followed a short presentation of speakers as patients and siblings opened ornately decorated boxes filled with monarch butterflies.