Ring The Bell

"Ringing the bell” at a cancer center is a tradition created to celebrate the completion of chemotherapy or radiation, a victory over cancer, and the celebration of new life ahead. 

But for many patients and families at Jane’s Fund, the bell ringing carries a very different weight. Not all bell ringing signifies remission or the end of cancer; rather, it can be rung by a child whose treatment failed to provide a cure or rung as a final act of courage before saying goodbye. The ceremony includes hospital staff, family members, and patients who have shared a waiting room gathering around the patient to ring the bell and honor a “race well run.” The bell ceremony is often one of the most painful moments for family members as they watch their child or sibling pull the string, hear the sound echo through the cancer center, and recognize time together will soon end. 

At Jane’s Fund, we understand the significance of the brave kids who ring the bell, knowing they have fought the best fight, aware they may not win the cancer race, yet still chose to persevere and endure. We believe every child and family deserves to celebrate life, especially these heroes. 

This week, we were asked to pay for two funerals, and we hope we can count on you to fund both celebrations of life:

Celebrate Jaida's life, a 12-year-old girl who loved to sing and paint who died of brain cancer: $9,809

Celebrate Austin's life, a 7-year-old boy who excelled in sports and math and died of a muscle and bone tutor: $11,028

With gratitude, 

The Jane’s Fund Team

*Names and photos may be changed to protect a family's privacy.