We recently received a letter from a family that understands the pain of losing a child to cancer. Inspired by the impact the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation is making in the world of cancer research, Charles and Kimberly Schneider reached out to us, compelled to help us in our initiative to affect real change when it comes to the inequities of childhood cancer.
The Schneiders lost their son, Chas, after an 8-month battle with stage 4 colon cancer. He was just 19 years old.
Despite being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 11, Chas was a very active child. He played football, basketball, baseball, and wrestled throughout all of his youth. After graduating from Detroit Catholic Central High School in 2011, he attended Michigan State University where he was a pre-med student. His goal was to become a doctor and help children like himself who were suffering from childhood diseases.
But that wasn’t to be. Chas fell into the 8% of people who suffer from Crohn’s disease that develop colon cancer. He lost his life before he was able to live out his dreams.
Six months after Chas passed away, the Schneiders learned about Chad Carr and his battle with another form of childhood cancer — diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), the deadliest form of childhood cancer.
Kim and Charles followed Chad’s journey every step of the way, and when he passed in 2015 their hearts were broken once again.
Still, they saw something wonderful happening in the Carrs’ mission to help raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. They wrote in their letter:
“So little funding is earmarked for childhood cancer research. We sincerely commend the Chadtough Defeat DIPG Foundation and their tireless efforts in battling this dreaded disease called cancer. You have been an inspiration and have given us encouragement throughout the years.” – Charles and Kimberly Schneider.
On behalf of the Chadtough Defeat DIPG Foundation, we are deeply grateful for the $10,000 matching donation for Giving Tuesday in Chas’ name. It is because of him, and all of the other children we fight for, that we are determined to make a difference.
