Elise is a warrior

Throughout 2017, St. Jude Heroes^® from across the country rose to the challenge and fundraised for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by participating in Warrior Dash events. Among those participants was 12-year-old Elise, a brave girl who’s all too familiar with the cause she was supporting.

In April 2016, when Elise was found to suffer from a rare tumor called brain cell germinoma, doctors referred the family to St. Jude. During her stay at the hospital, Elise underwent a treatment protocol that included chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.

Thanks to St. Jude, Elise completed treatment in 2016 and is back home doing what she loves. She participates in competitive dance and acts in local theater. “She is making her dreams come true, thanks to St. Jude,” said her mom, Kristine.

The family now returns to St. Jude for regular checkups, all at no cost to Elise or her family. “We never have to worry about travel, where we’ll stay or food,” said Kristine. “We just focus on her health.” 

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

And when Elise took on a new set of obstacles during the 2017 Gulf Coast Warrior Dash, they were no match for her underlying strength and conviction.