Young Inspirations

In celebration and remembrance of the children and young people who inspire us, UMass Memorial Foundation welcomes donations in support of the following programs.  For more information, please call us at 508-856-5520 or email us at giving@umassmed.edu . Thank you for your generosity, and for providing our youngest patients and their families with hope and support.

Ali & Dad's Army

Ali Pierce was a vivacious 14-year-old who had managed to keep her sense of humor during her battle with cancer. After her death in 1996, John Pierce, Ali's dad, created "Ali's Army," a group of runners who would run for Ali at the Boston Marathon. The goal was to raise money to establish the Ali Pierce Endowment Fund. Tragically, less than a year after Ali's death, John suffered a massive heart attack while running a half marathon and died just 10 feet from the finish line.

Anna Ling Pierce, Ali's mom and John's wife, changed the name of the fund to Ali & Dad's Army, and runners for both Ali and Dad completed their first Boston Marathon in 1998. They also participate in the "Walk to Cure Cancer" to support cancer research at UMass Medical School. Anna now leads the Army with the help of her two sons Mike and J.T., and the fund supports pediatric cancer research and programs at the UMass Medical School and at the UMass Children's Medical Center.

Tara Bean

Tara Katherine Bean was an energetic fourth grader who enjoyed soccer, piano, dance lessons, skiing, reading, music, and caring for animals. Although she had no symptoms, a routine eye exam found a vision problem that led to the discovery of a brain tumor. Three weeks after her diagnosis, and one day after the surgery that revealed an inoperable tumor, Tara died unexpectedly from complications. Her family established the Tara Bean Foundation in her memory to increase awareness about pediatric brain tumors and to raise funds for pediatric brain tumor treatment and research advancements at UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center.  Proceeds from this year's Valentine's Gala will be used to establish the Tara Bean Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship. Learn more at www.TaraBeanFoundation.org  

Bobby's Bullpen

Bobby Duquette was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer at 9 months old and was quickly admitted to UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center.    He underwent chemotherapy and surgery and spent most of the next 120 days of his young life there. Today, he remains cancer free. In honor of Bobby's courageous battle, his family, the Duquettes, founded Bobby's Bullpen so that other children can jump back into the game of life with their greatest potential.  This year, Bobby's Bullpen is raising funds to renovate the short-stay unit at the Children's Medical Center, which provides specialized care for children needing outpatient procedures with pediatric specialists.

Brendan's Buddies

Brendan Carroll was born in July 1999, three months premature and weighing under two pounds. His survival was uncertain, but after five months in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at UMass Memorial, Brendan was able to go home. Today, he is a healthy six-year-old. His family formed Brendan's Buddies, a running team, to show thanks to the NICU by raising funds to buy needed life-saving equipment for the unit. More than 50 runners have raised $115,000 to support the treatment of infants at the NICU.  Please visit www.brendansbuddies.com.

Our Danny Cancer Fund

Danny Manning Jr. was almost 21 years old when he lost his life to cancer, but his dream to find a cure is alive.   Read about what his family is doing so his dream can live on...

Holden Teen Kristen Peterson Turns Art into Donations

When 14-year-old Kristen Peterson learned of her mother's diagnosis of breast cancer in 2004, she was determined to use her artistic talent to raise money for breast cancer research. Kristen sells her boxed note cards that portray the beauty of nature at shops in Holden, West Boylston and Tatnuck, and donates proceeds to the UMass Memorial Foundation for breast cancer research.   Read more about this thoughtful young woman's story...

John Link

John Link was diagnosed with bone cancer at 17. He went through three months of intensive inpatient chemotherapy, a limb salvage surgery, then six more months of chemotherapy. Eight years later, he is cancer free and wrote a book that reaches out to teens with cancer - The Link to Beating Cancer: The Real Life Story of a Teenage Cancer Survivor.   John walks in our Walk to Cure Cancer and donates part of the proceeds from his book sales to support cancer research at the UMass Memorial Cancer Center. Learn more about his remarkable story at www.linktobeat.com .

S upporting T reatment A nd R esearch for children is the Annual Fund of the UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center, and invests in the health and well-being of the children of Central New England. You can become a star in a child's life with your support of the STAR Fund. Contributions help sustain the vital research, medical and preventive health care services that make a positive difference in the lives of so many children.