“We’ll keep fighting and fighting!” says Melody Mainville, mother of Elijah, a young boy receiving care at our hospital for neruoblastoma, “There’s no giving up.”
That fighting spirit and families like the Mainvilles have inspired the team at World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) to organize Superstars for Hope, a month-long fundraising campaign leveraging the support of WWE’s loyal fan base around the world. Superstars for Hope was the first in a series of community outreach initiatives in celebration of Wrestlemania 31, held on March 29at Levi’s Stadium. Together, WWE and the San Francisco 49ers Foundation raised more than $281,000 for two worthy causes: childhood cancer research at our hospital and Special Olympics.
This inspiring gift makes a difference for childhood cancer research and will not only benefit children in our care like Elijah, but children worldwide, too.
“When I started my residency 39 years ago, a child diagnosed with cancer would have lost their battle within five years,” David Alexander, MD, president and CEO of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, said to a crowd at the Superstars for Hope fundraising party. “Today, more than 90 percent of children with the most common cancers are cured, and it’s due in large part to research funding and people like you who care about this cause. We’ve made incredible advances and we’re not going to stop until every child is cured.”
Patients and families receiving care at our hospital got in on the Superstars for Hope fun, too. WWE Superstars, WWE Divas, and 49ers players visited our hospital and spent an afternoon in the Forever Young Zone playroom making fun crafts and taking silly photos. In addition, Elijah and his family were invited as special guests to a weekend of WWE events including WWE Axxess and Wrestlemania 31.
“As a father, this is one of my proudest moments,” dad Ronnie Mainville said, looking on at Elijah as he posed with WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and WWE Superstar Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “I’m so grateful to have this experience—this is something he’ll never forget for the rest of his life. We’ll never forget it.”
Please join us in thanking WWE and the San Francisco 49ers for joining the fight against childhood cancer and helping kids like Elijah!
