Schedule of Events
CureFest 2022 will take place in a hybrid format again this September. There will be an in-person event in Washington, DC, as well as an interactive virtual format that will allow families from around the world to hold One Voice Walks and other activities in their own communities.
CureFest for Childhood Cancer will be held in person in Washington, DC on September 21 - 25, 2022.
Here are some of the features of in-person CureFest.
Note: This schedule includes official and unofficial CureFest events as well as additional events hosted by the childhood cancer community. All activities and events are subject to change or cancellation.
Wednesday, September 21
Golden Toast
6 p.m. at LiUNA's Private Rooftop Deck
A cocktail reception honoring the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus Co-Chairs
(RSVP required)
Hosted by the Carson Leslie Foundation
Contact Annette Leslie for more information at hello@carsonlesliefoundation.org
Thursday, September 22
13th Annual Childhood Cancer Summit
Members of the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus gather with advocates, doctors, and survivors to raise awareness for the pediatric cancer community.
Hosted by the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus
Amplify Advocacy Workshop
Details to be announced
Hosted by various childhood cancer foundations
Friday, September 23
BrainStorm Summit Presentations
Registration is required is required for this affiliate event.
$75/person (includes breakfast and lunch)
7:15 a.m. Registration & Breakfast
7:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Program & Luncheon
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. White House Childhood Cancer
Briefing Watch Party
Ends at 5:00 p.m.
National Press Club - 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045
Premium Sponsorships provided by: ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and Tough2gether Against DIPG
Additional Sponsorships provided by:
Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation, Bionaut Labs, BrainTumor Network, Childrens Brain Tumor Foundation, Children’s Brain Tumor Network, CureSearch, Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Gift From A Child, Luke’s Posse, MaxLove Project, Morgan Adams Foundation, Oncoheroes Biosciences, Sonalasense, Storm the Heavens, Take Over Tumors, The H Life, Dimples Jewelry, MaxLove Project and Dragon Master Foundation.
Event Summary: BrainStorm Summit is a NEW event bringing the pediatric brain tumor community together to share the latest information on: Alternative Therapies, Grief, Preclinical Research, Immunotherapy Options, the Value of Sharing Patient Data and Recent Advances from Shared Data, Emotional Support Strategies for Parents, Fighters, Siblings and Survivors, a Review of the new My DIPG Navigator and the DIPG DMG National Brain Tumor Board, and Advanced Therapies.
Confirmed Speakers: Dr. Peter Adamson, Dr. Roger Packer, Dr. Adam Resnick, Reed Jobs, Dr. Nicholas Vitanza, Dr. Lindsey Kilburn, Dr. Jessica Foster and additional speakers to be named later.
Would you like to sponsor? All the details here.
Questions: Lisa Ward at tough2gether@gmail.com
Climb the Hill Youth Advocacy Day
(Registration required.)
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hosted by Kids V Cancer
Contact Jenn Flynn for more details at jenn@kidsvcancer.org
CureFest Family Welcome Night
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Freedom Plaza
Hosted by CureFest
Welcome Reception and Awareness Celebration
Registration required
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The National Press Club
529 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20045
Hosted by the Alliance for Childhood Cancer & the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer
For more information and to register, contact Mandy Spielvogle Powell, CAC2 Managing Director, at mandy@cac2.org.
Teen Track - Friday Late Night
Registration is required
7:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. (Travel provided by charter bus to location and back to JW Marriott)
Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus - 7144 13th Pl NW, Washington, DC 20012
Cost: FREE; However registration is limited.
Age: 13 - 23 year olds who are fighters, survivors or siblings
Sponsored by Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, American Cancer Society’s Gold Together for Childhood Cancer, Children’s National Hospital, Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation and Tough2gether Against DIPG/DMG
Get together with other teens and young adults who are fighters, survivors or siblings of childhood cancer for a fun time to hang out at the ultra-modern Children's National Research and Innovation Campus (CNRIC). A charter bus will take you from the JW Marriott hotel to the CNRIC back. It will be a fun filled night at the lab with young scientists, followed by games planned by your peers, pizza, games, and social activities. Relax and socialize with others who share your cancer journey. For teens 17 and younger please plan to have a parent meet the bus at the pick up and drop off location.
Questions: Lisa Ward at tough2gether@gmail.com
Saturday, September 24
BrainStorm Summit’s Tough2gether Against DIPG/DMG Breakfast
Registration is required for this affiliate event.
$25/person (includes breakfast - age 3 and up)
7:30 a.m. Registration and Coffee Service
8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Program
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Community Connection
JW Marriott Washington DC - 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Hosted by Tough2gether Against DIPG
Presented in partnership with: ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, Dimples, Luke's Posse, Storm the Heavens, and Glimmer of Hope Foundation.
Also sponsored by: Bionaut Labs, Cure Starts Now, Mithil Prasad Foundation. Noah Halek Strong, Sonalasense, AMP Properties, Kenzie Scoggins Family, Live Gray's Way, Kaylan Strong Fight Like a Warrior, Children’s National Hospital.
This breakfast promises to be a renewal of the shot in the arm the DIPG community experienced last fall. Now, in its second year, the breakfast is the pinnacle of togetherness for all DIPG families, researchers, physicians, cancer advocates and policy makers. We will intentionally provide time before and after the breakfast program to get to know others as we mingle amongst poster displays of our children and foundations who light our path. The program once again will highlight trials which are showing promise, new advances on the way, and celebrate the initiatives accomplished together in 2021-2022. Just as important, we'll hear a fighter's perspective, legislative update, and share a roadmap of more opportunities to work towards together in 2023. Anyone is invited to join us and learn more about DIPG/DMG.
Questions: Lisa Ward at tough2gether@gmail.com
BrainStorm Summit’s Survivorship Breakfast
Registration is required for this affiliate event.
$25/person (includes breakfast - age 3 and up)
7:30 a.m. Registration
8:15 a.m. Coffee Service & Social time
8:30 a.m. Breakfast and Program begins
11:30 a.m. Program Ends
JW Marriott Washington DC - 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
We encourage children under 12 to take advantage of the children’s programing on Saturday morning.
Premium Sponsorships provided by: ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and Tough2gether Against DIPG
Additional Sponsorships provided by: Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation, Bionaut Labs, BrainTumor Network, Childrens Brain Tumor Foundation, Children’s Brain Tumor Network, CureSearch, Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Gift From A Child, Luke’s Posse, MaxLove Project, Morgan Adams Foundation, Oncoheroes Biosciences, Sonalasense, Storm the Heavens, Take Over Tumors, The H Life, Dimples Jewelry, MaxLove Project and Dragon Master Foundation.
This breakfast focuses on the real challenges faced by survivors of pediatric brain tumors. Special attention is given to education, employment, advocacy, complications from treatment, recurrence, sexuality, health benefits & employment, and overcoming the lasting emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. Spend the morning with other cancer survivors, their families, providers, researchers and advocates as we delve into what happens now? Surviving after the immediate battle with pediatric brain cancer. Anyone is invited to join us and learn more about dealing with the many issues survivors face.
Questions: Lisa Ward at tough2gether@gmail.com
Express, Create & Heal Workshops
Registration is required.
9 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the JW Marriott Hotel
Fighters: Ages 3 - 12
Survivors: Ages 3 - 12
Siblings: Ages 3 - 12
Siblings: Ages 13+
Space limited for this free event.
Hosted by CureFest and A Moment of Magic
Teen Track: Do You Hear Us Now?
Registration is required.
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
JW Marriott Washington DC - 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Cost: FREE
Hosts: Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, American Cancer Society’s Gold Together for Childhood Cancer, Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation and Tough2gether Against DIPG/DMG
Ever wonder how you are making it through this rough patch with cancer? Ever wonder if you are alone in your thoughts and experiences? Have you lost a brother or sister to cancer and want to make some kind of sense from your experience? Want to be heard and seen by those who understand? Want some new tools tried by peers going through a similar journey? Join teens and young adults ages 13 - 23 for a fun filled morning planned by your peers. Topics will include the characteristics of being resilient, the common threads shared in doing life near this thing called cancer, and the ups and downs only those like you in the trenches know so well. Join fighters, survivors and siblings for an unscripted perspective led by your peers. Be seen. Let your voice be heard surrounded by those who understand.
Questions: Lisa Ward at Tough2gether@gmail.com
Rally to the Capitol
2 p.m. on the National Mall
Hosted by the Rally Foundation
CureFest Meet and Greet
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Freedom Plaza
Hosted by CureFest
CureFest Night of Golden Lights
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Freedom Plaza
Hosted by CureFest
CureFest Candlelight Vigil
8:30 to 9 p.m. at Freedom Plaza
Hosted by CureFest
Sunday, September 25
Hope, Healing and Heaven Worship Service
Hosted by Gift from a Child and Tough2gether
CureFest Festival
11 a.m. at National Sylvan Theater near the Washington Monument: Performances, Speeches and Tributes
Hosted by CureFest
Childhood Cancer Shoe Memorial Ceremony
12:30 p.m. on the Washington Monument Grounds
Hosted by CureFest and the 1Voice Foundation
CureFest Walk
12:45 p.m. on the Washington Monument Grounds
3/4 mile walk at your own pace
Hosted by CureFest
Additional Components
One Voice Walks (Virtual)
Rather than just one large walk in Washington, DC, this year will feature hundreds of informal neighborhood One Voice walks around the country. Some walks may involve one person and others might involve many families. Customized banners with the name of your group, organization or community will be available for purchase at cost.
Custom CureFest App (Virtual and In-Person)
Participants will be interconnected virtually through an interactive, custom app that will count the group’s steps for the day. Based on the number of participants, we will have a group goal for steps taken on September 24 and 25. There will also be unique ways for families to share updates and words of encouragement with other families.
CureFest LiveStream
CureFest program with speakers and performers will be streamed on September 24 and 25 prior to the One Voice community walks.
CureFest Beads and Medals
Honor beads will be provided to in-person participants. Medals will be presented to all survivors, fighters, and siblings in attendance.
Virtual participants will have the opportunity to purchase honor beads and medals for survivors, fighters, siblings, parents and advocates.
