N8 Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

This week, for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, two schools in the BCSD (Downtown Elementary and my school, Cato Middle School) are doing their annual penny wars to support the N8 Foundation! The wars started today and will run through Friday. The penny wars are all out battles and include themed dress up days and rallies at the end of the week. It is a fun way for kids to get involved and raise money for cancer research. In the past, both schools have raised over $5,000... (each)!!! This year, we would like to give the community an opportunity to participate as well to help them reach and surpass their goals. If you or anyone you know is interested in donating money to go toward the game (can be coins, cash or checks), please let us know. 100% of all money raised will go to the N8 Foundation, of which, 100% goes to research for pediatric cancer. As we say, not a penny wasted!!! :) Also, all donations are tax deductible through the Foundation. Donations can be dropped off with me or Nick, at the front offices at the schools, or mailed to the Foundation at P.O. Box 6463, Bakersfield, CA 93386. If you mail it in, just be sure to send me or Nick a message so the amount of your donation can be included in the game. And game on to everyone who had their students bomb my class with your cash this morning. It's on!!! As always, thank you everyone for your continued love and support! Also, shout out to the BCSD as a whole for including the N8 Foundation as one of its trusted beneficiary foundations during its summer teacher training institute.

It has been a tough decision, but just to let everybody know, we are taking a break from doing the run this year - for a number of reasons, but mostly just to keep things fresh and to try some new things. We are still doing the penny wars in September through the BCSD and outside participation and donations are always welcome! Event dates will be announced shortly. Contact Nick or Tracy if interested. The other BIG news we have is that a few months ago, the research team... we have been working with at Stanford announced a MAJOR scientific breakthrough in treating DIPG and they did it, in part, using Nate’s cell lines! How crazy is that!? In short, using immunotherapy (engineered immune cells), they are now able to virtually eliminate DIPG tumors in virtually all models. See the attached article. Truly an amazing leap forward! http://med.stanford.edu//altered-immune-cells-clear-childh The research paper with their findings was recently published in Nature Medicine. The N8 Foundation even got a nod at the end of the paper as a partial sponsor. Thank you Dr. Monje and team! The team at Stanford is currently working to start the first human trial in the next few months, hopefully by the first part of this next year. We are certainly hopeful that this new breakthrough translates into an effective human treatment Dr. Monje, you and your team are amazing! Thank you again!!! To kick off Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month (gold ribbon), on September 1st, the N8 Foundation will donate an additional $10,000.00 to the Monje DIPG Research Lab to help Dr. Monje and her team as they head into this next exciting phase. Thank you again everyone for your continued love and support!

The "kissing station"... I remember the light hearted comment before Nate was rolled away. Never in my life have I ever been so terrified. He had no idea what was going to happen and we had no idea how to tell him. This is why we Run, this is why we support these families, this is how you can help locally. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO RUN!!!... You may register tomorrow @ Rio Bravo Ranch: FRIDAY, OCT 6: 4-6pm During Early Packet Pick-up OR SATURDAY morning, OCT 7: 6:45-7:45am before 8am race time!

HUGE THANK YOU to our BOARD MEMBER, Jeremy Scheidle - State Farm Insurance Agent for all his work on SPONSORSHIPS!!!!

More new BRONZE SPONSORS!!! White Oaks Florist Mission Bank John Alexander DDS... Grandma Shirley Walton THANK YOU for your continued support!! We appreciate your generosity!!

What can I say...Downtown Elementary has once again gone above and beyond in making a difference in pediatric cancer. This is the grand total from their PENNY WARS...and boy did they have an eventful week and an exciting battle! But beyond the excitement from announcing the winning class... is seeing each student, teacher, and parent at this school help "change" the lives of the families affected by pediatric cancer. On behalf of our family and the N8Foundation, THANK YOU #DowntownElementary #Downtowndragons We can all learn a little from their students #JustBeNice #N8Foundation

Meet James Miller. James is an active runner with both the Bakersfield Track Club and Team IBProFun. He registered for the N8 Run and set a goal to raise an additional $500. He said he would run both the 5k AND 10k if he met his goal....GUESS WHAT - James will be crossing the finish line not once but TWICE. We look forward to cheering James on as he completes BOTH runs on Saturday. THANK YOU JAMES!!! Registration is open until 11:59pm. Early packet pick up starts Friday @ 4pm.

I would like to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to RBV (Rio Bravo Valley) Crossfit for making Saturday's WOD (workout of the day) the N8 5k/10k run. Thank you for supporting the N8Foundation and pediatric cancer 3 years in a row. When you see them out there, hit them up on class schedules and come check them out. It's a great place to train for all levels of athletes. Register now! Today is the last day for online registration.

Two days ago I sat in the office and listened to a mother whose son was just diagnosed with brain cancer. I listened through her tears, frustration, and confusion. The scramble to get homework, arrange care for her other kids and get messages to their teachers was all too familiar - and I just listened, comforted, and assured her things would be taken care of at school. She doesn't know my story and I didn't need to tell her. Maybe someday, and if not, that's ok too. As you k...now, our story doesn't have a happy ending. N8's tumor tortured us all and we were forced to let go. Although there are so many good memories, the devastating ones can never be erased. I'll never forget the day he lost the ability to walk, or slowly lost his ability to speak...and I certainly can't let go of the day he was pried from my arms. As a mother, you never want to let go and I just wanted to hold on a little bit longer. This single mother, like so many others, needed to hear hope not devastation. I have learned that it is not through Nathan's journey but his legacy that provides hope to so many families. It is not the torture that he suffered rather the work that is being done. The advancements in research through his cell line are changing the way all pediatric tumors are being treated, not just DIPG. It is through the support from our community and people around the world who help the N8 Foundation make a difference. Because you we have the ability to continue supporting the advancements in better treatment for our children. Because of you we have the means to help ease some of the financial burdens families face as they scramble to make sense of a devistating diease. It is through N8 that we can provide HOPE that so many families are desperately seeking. Thank you to our sponsors for your continued support. Thank you to our volunteers who work effortlessly in helping the N8 Foundation make a difference, and thank you to those who continue to spread awareness. It's not too late, please join us as we Run to Remember our beloved N8 as well as the other children we have supported and continue to support through this run. Tracy aka - mom https://endurancecui.active.com//eve/47519751/select-race

Registration is now open for the 4th annual Nate's Army RUN! The N8 Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation presents the 4th Annual NATE'S ARMY 5K/10K, "Run to Remember." We are pleased to announce that we have added a 1K-Walking option. The N8 Foundation is a public benefit charity organization formed by Nathan Street’s family and friends to help fund DIPG research and to assist local families with children who are currently battling the disease. ... Enjoy a run or walk through the historic Rio Bravo Ranch situated on 9,000 acres of diverse and scenic landscape. The trail route will take you over rustic ranch roads and up through citrus orchards overlooking the majestic Kern River. This course is suitable for all ages and abilities, however, please keep in mind it is a trail run. The 10K will follow the same 5K course with an additional loop in the middle of the course. This will be a chip timed event with awards in age categories for the 5K and 10K given at the conclusion of the 10K. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A SPONSOR, PLEASE PREVIEW OUR SPONSOR LETTER FOR MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/groups/298617456967588/files/ https://endurancecui.active.com//eve/47519751/select-race

****SAVE THE DATE**** The 4th Annual Nathan's Army 5K/10K (with a NEW 1K walk option) will be October 7, 2017. Online registration coming soon through Active.com THANK YOU for continuing to be part of this amazing foundation... stay tuned for a new and exciting research update involving N8's cell line which could be a complete game changer...