Mission Statement
We raise funds to put an end to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) through research and awareness, assist families affected by pediatric cancers and support the local community
Who is Sophia?
A force to be reckoned with
Sophia was a fun loving 10 year old girl who was always on the go. She loved all sports, especially swimming and she was a friend to all. Two months before her tenth birthday she vomited a couple of mornings. We took her to the Dr. and we were told it was reflux. Less than a week later, on August 14, 2022 we had her back to emerge because she started stumbling. They gave her an MRI and two hours later we were told she had DIPG, something we had never heard of. Terminal brain cancer. In that little room I was told that with treatment, my daughter would only have on average 9 months to live. Sophia passed away on May 6, 2023.
What is Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)?
DIPG is a type of tumor that starts in the brain stem, the part of the brain just above the back of the neck and connected to the spine. The brain stem controls breathing, heart rate and the nerves and muscles that help us see, hear, walk, talk and eat. These tumors are called gliomas because they grow from glial cells, a type of supportive cell in the brain.
It accounts for 10 percent of all childhood central nervous system tumors.
Approximately 20 children in Canada and 300 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with DIPG each year.
While DIPG is usually diagnosed when children are between the ages of five and nine, it can occur at any age in childhood.
It occurs in boys and girls equally and does not generally appear in adults
Survival rates:
2-year survival is approximately 10%
5-year survival is approximately 2%
Wr are proud members of the DIPG collaborative, trying to bring an end to DIPG through funding research
