Sam is a 17-year-old confident young man starting his senior year of high school and thinking about what the future will bring. He is on the Varsity tennis team, is a tireless advocate for several pediatric cancer foundations, and loves the downtime he gets to spend with friends, cousins, and his beloved dog, Aria.

It is hard to imagine that, just a few short years ago, Sam was fighting for his life. At the age of 11, Sam was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. On that fateful night in October, his family was told that he might not survive the weekend.

Sam was a happy and active 11-year-old boy. He played multiple sports, loved hanging out with the neighborhood kids, and looked forward to every meal. So when he lost his appetite, we were concerned, but figured he had simply finished a growth spurt. A few weeks later, Sam had lost 10 pounds and was exhausted all the time. When his COVID test came back negative, we went to the doctor looking for answers.

We did not get to see his regular pediatrician because we had called for a sick appointment. Despite the fairly dramatic weight loss, the doctor was convinced Sam was simply depressed. We had to beg—and fight—to get him some tests.

Those tests saved his life.

Sam’s treatment lasted more than two and a half years. During that time, he was in the pediatric ICU three times, including two bouts of sepsis. His family spent holidays, birthdays, and almost nine months total in the hospital. And because it was during COVID, Sam had very few opportunities to connect with other children who understood what he was going through. He made two close friends who were also fighting cancer.

He has since lost both of them.

Their deaths are a painful reminder that not every child who hears the words “you have cancer” gets the chance to grow up.

One of the hardest complications of Sam’s treatment was the development of avascular necrosis, which ultimately required him to have both of his hips replaced at just 15 years old. But Sam refused to let that define what came next. He worked tirelessly to rebuild his strength and conditioning, making the golf team that same year and the tennis team the year after. He continues to receive IV treatments for the necrosis that also affected his shoulders, but he does not let that—or anything else—stop him.

Today, Sam is a survivor, an advocate, and a young man with a very big vision for his future. He hopes to become a doctor and help people in the way that so many doctors, nurses, caregivers, family members, friends, and strangers helped him.

Sam knows firsthand what it means to be a child with cancer. He knows what it means for a family to spend months in a hospital. And he knows how much hope can come from the people who choose to stand beside you when you need them most.

Sam is here today because he was given that chance.

And his hope is that every child fighting cancer gets the same chance to grow up, dream about the future, and become whoever they were meant to be.

At the inaugural Coaches vs. Cancer Legends Gala, we shared the powerful story of Oliver Boyd and his family. When Oliver was diagnosed with lymphoma, their journey became one defined by strength, hope, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

During the paddle raise in his honor, $153,120 was raised to support pediatric cancer research. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and guests, the evening made a meaningful and lasting impact on children and families affected by cancer.

This mission impact video tells Oliver’s story and reminds us why the fight against cancer matters every single day.