Team Joestrong

Team Joestrong
Riding for Joe DeWaele
Cancer is the biggest killer of kids from disease in the USA, 38 children die every week. Please donate now and support our challenge to fight kids' cancer!
We've Ridden 0.0 mi Our goal is 1,574 mi
Our Rankings
  • National: 1st
  • Category: 1st
We've raised $4,162 Our goal is $35,000 Donate Now

We Are Riding For

Joe DeWaele

Joe DeWaele

Joe was your average 3rd grader. He loved video games, the WWE, and hanging out with his friends and family. And then, in an instant, everything changed. A lingering illness turned out to be Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (or ALL). Cancer. The words no parent ever wants to hear. He loved spending time with his family, friends, and his two dogs Emma and Gary. Joe had a love for life and enjoyed taking rides in his go cart, playing outside, watching Youtube and playing video games. He enjoyed cheeseburgers and pizza, sour skittles and pickles. Joe had a love for helping those less fortunate than himself. He had a contagious laugh, a bright smile, and a kind spirit. Over the nine months Joe fought leukemia, he was still your average kid in so many ways. Still loved video games, the WWE, and hanging out with his friends and family. He earned his way to being so much more than your Average Joe. He is a Fighter, a Hero, an Inspiration. We are #joestrong.

Our Challenge

  • $2,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    We just hit $2,000 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 69 days ago
  • $1,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    We just hit $1,000 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 75 days ago
  • $500 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    We just hit $500 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 75 days ago
  • $250 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    We just hit $250 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 75 days ago
  • $100 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    We just hit $100 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 75 days ago
  • #Joestrong's Story - Part I
    3 Jan 2024

    Hello,Team #Joestrong! I am Joe's mom and want to start by telling you how deeply honored we are that you are all riding in honor and memory of our precious boy and raising money for a cause near and dear. Words will not be able to tell you all how much this means.

    Joe's story is one that is filled with bravery and strength. Pain and tragedy. Smiles and laughs. If that makes any sense at all......

    It was February 2019, my husband and oldest son had the flu. Joe was diagnosed with it last and had the most mild symptoms of all of my boys. Joe had returned to school on a Friday but started running a fever and I was called to pick him up. No problem, I thought. Probably just lingering effects of the flu. So we came home to rest. My oldest son, John, had his birthday party the next day and Joe woke up feeling good- even went on a bike ride before the party. Once we were at the party, everything started going south, fast. It was at one of those indoor trampoline/bounce house places. Joe was just falling out. He got hit in the face with a dodge ball, upset, mad.....just not our happy Joe. Fast forward to that evening....we got home. Joe was sick to his stomach and one of his eyes was extremely bloodshot. We figured it was from the dodge ball that he caught on his cheek. We decided to let things play out a little bit before calling the pediatrician. Joe slept through the night.

    This is now Sunday March 3, 2019. Joe woke up the next day and both eyes were completely red with blood and I called the pediatrician immediately. We were to go at 11am. In the hours leading up to the appointment, Joe started getting a bloody nose off and on. Then I noticed what looked to be blood blisters in his mouth. A mother's instinct is not typically wrong but NO ONE could have prepared me for the next few hours.

    Joe and I arrived at the pediatrician. She immediately started asking questions-had we traveled outside the country, had we been exposed to people who had, etc. She then told us to go directly to the ER and that she was calling ahead to let them know we were coming.

    At that point, I am on high alert. Call my husband, David, to give him the update. Joe and I arrive and are pretty much whisked back to a room for blood work. Keep in mind, Joe has always been a healthy kid and never had blood work- so it was extremely traumatic. But, true to his brave warrior self, he got through it like a champ.

    Within an hour, the ER doc came back and asked us to step into another room. Going into a small room with a doctor never end well. This is not going to be good- is all I kept hearing. And then just like that, our beautiful, seemingly normal and wonderful life crashed down like a mountain of bricks. "I'm sorry, your son has leukemia. The ambulance is coming to take you the ICU at Wolfson (our childrens hospital). Do you have questions?" WHAT.....WAIT, WHAT???? I damn near passed out and would have hit the floor had David not been standing next to me. LEUKEMIA. WTF. The first thing I said was, "we can't loose him". If only.

    If you've never been in the front seat of an ambulance with the lights and sirens on, going full speed down I-95, and your child in the back,I don't recommend it. Turns out, upon arrival to the ICU, Joe was completely convinced that I drove that ambulance. This was one truth he would never find out about. I kept that secret to myself.

    The next days were a whirlwind. Meeting with oncology team, surgery for a port (central line used to giving chemo, blood, etc) that was placed in his chest, bone marrow biopsies, chemotherapy, you name it and it was done.

    Posted 75 days ago
  • #Joestrong's Story - Part II
    3 Jan 2024

    Joe was terrified just like the rest of us. He was very silent and hardly spoke for the first month after diagnosis. Not typical of Joe. He asked both David and me, on multiple occasions, if he was going to die. Can you imagine, 8 years old and asking that? Or as a parent, trying to field it? My answer always, always was, "not on my watch, Joe. Not on my watch". A promise I could not keep.

    Turns out Joe's leukemia was a very rare and aggressive subtype called Hypodiploid Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia that made him resistant to virtually every form of treatment (there are not a lot-which is why what you are doing is so very important) available.

    Joe would be treated at home, here in Jacksonville. When that treatment proved to not be effective, we were sent to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for CAR-T cell therapy. Joe and I lived there for 6 weeks. He ended up intubated in the ICU for over a week only to be told at the end of the six weeks again "I'm sorry it didn't work. We still some options, but the list is very short" Again, WTF. We were sent home to Jacksonville on a trial chemo and two weeks later, got "I'm sorry, it didn't work. You should take Joe home and make memories". Well, we operate on the philosophy of "If you're going down you may as well go down swinging".

    David and I had already been doing extensive research for other clinical trials. It so happened that I found one at St.Jude in Memphis that accepted us. On October 23, 2019 we flew to Memphis. Joe had an awful time holding onto platelets and was a huge bleed risk because of this so flying was a very high risk. But, we made it and started treatment right away. Fast forward to mid-November, Joe again responded for the first two weeks and we thought we were on our way. Then, he started getting sick. Sicker and sicker. He couldn't eat or hold anything down. He lost 10 pounds in a matter of roughly 2 weeks. Upon taking him to the hospital, he was admitted to ICU, yet again. I'm sparing you from the details but to say it was difficult would be the greatest understatement ever. On November 23,2019, the ICU doc came in and told us that Joe's odds of survival were very low and they were moving us to hospice. Our worlds crashed down again....

    We lost Joe on November 26, 2019 at 10:12a.m. in Memphis at St.Jude. He drifted out of this world in my arms. My hand was on his heart and I felt it stop beating. David and John sat next to him. Our worlds crashed yet again but in a way that no parent or sibling should ever have to experience. In a way that will never be rebuilt. We all died that day- forever changed. I will grieve Joe's loss until the day comes when I drift away to be with him for eternity.

    Posted 75 days ago
  • #Joestrong's Story - Part III
    3 Jan 2024

    What I can tell you about my beautiful angel, Joe, is that he is smart, funny, kind, unassuming, silly, unique, a great buddy, an amazing son, and just all around amazing human. The world needed more of his light. We needed more of him. He fought with courage, dignity, and humility. Joe fought a fight that was bigger than any child should have to ever fight. Was he scared, yep. Did he push through, yep. I will forever stand in awe of Joe and his ability to face this demon head on and give it the finger. (Literally, flipped off almost every doctor).

    Please know that what you are doing for these warrior children and their families is worthy. It is honorable and to be respected. If you can have a part in saving just one child and one family from the crushing pain of loosing another life, it will be worth it tenfold. As Danny Thomas said, "No child should die in the dawn of life".

    If you are interested in reading more about Joe and his story, seeing some more of our story, he does have a private FB page. If you would like, and don't feel obligated, you can friend me and I will send you an invite.

    If you've read this far, thank you. As lengthy as this is, it was just a glimpse. I could write all day about Joe. Before, during, and after leukemia. Know that I am honored that you took the time to learn a little about Joe. The boy who has forever stolen my heart.

    #Joestrong's Story - Part III
    Posted 75 days ago
  • 3 Jan 2024

    This September, Team Joestrong is taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!

    Why? Because right now, cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in the United States. Over 15,700 children are diagnosed every year, and sadly, 38 children die of cancer every week.

    Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.

    So we are raising funds through our challenge to help these kids and support Children's Cancer Research Fund to allow them to continue their work to develop lifesaving treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.

    Please support us by making a donation to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.

    Your support will change little lives.

    Thank you.

    Ricardo

    Posted 75 days ago

Our Sponsors

  • Fundraising sponsored Dee Ide-eames
    $1,485
    Received this donation 75 days ago
  • Eric Shepard sponsored Eric Shepard
    “Kicking things off with my own personal donation to fight kids' cancer!”
    $516.47
    Received this donation 69 days ago
  • Fundraising sponsored Dee Ide-eames
    $315
    Received this donation 47 days ago
  • Facebook Fundraiser Donation sponsored Andrew Carpenter
    $204.56
    Received this donation 16 days ago
  • Greg and Bonnie Jones sponsored Hans Christiansen
    “We will always support your ride to end childhood cancers!”
    $103.50
    Received this donation 4 days ago
    Hans Christiansen
    Hans
    “Wow! You are my real stars! I can't thank you enough.”
  • Jim Pickell sponsored Jim Pickell
    “Kicking things off with my own personal donation to fight kids' cancer!”
    $103.50
    Received this donation 48 days ago
  • Diana Aguillon sponsored Elsa Cantu
    “Thank you so much for what you’re doing for Caleb and every kid/person with cancer. I pray that you reach your goal. God bless you 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽”
    $77.63
    Received this donation 25 days ago
    Elsa Cantu
    Elsa
    “Thank you for so much for your generous donation and your support towards my challenge. Hugs to Caleb.”
  • Hans Christiansen sponsored Hans Christiansen
    “Kicking things off with my own personal donation to fight kids' cancer!”
    $77.63
    Received this donation 67 days ago
  • Isabell Fusco sponsored Andre Varunok
    “Go Andre!”
    $77.63
    Received this donation 50 days ago
  • Davis Michelle sponsored Shane Alimo
    “So very proud of you. Love you”
    $72.45
    Received this donation 25 days ago
    Shane Alimo
    Shane
    “Thank you so much. Love you. ❤️”
  • Jackie Corral sponsored Elsa Cantu
    “Thank you so much for riding for these beautiful children. Prayers for Caleb, Leslie. our prayers and condolences to the family of Javier. 🫂❤️”
    $72.45
    Received this donation 26 days ago
    Elsa Cantu
    Elsa
    “Thank you so much for your donation and support to my challenge. Give my best to Caleb.”
  • Kathi Kinnear Hill sponsored Hans Christiansen
    “Hans, you and your team are emotionally and physically doing the hard work for our babies. Thank you 🙌🏾”
    $72.45
    Received this donation 66 days ago
    Hans Christiansen
    Hans
    “Thank you Kathi. You are the best.”
  • Andrew Carpenter sponsored Andrew Carpenter
    “Kicking things off with my own personal donation to fight kids' cancer!”
    $51.75
    Received this donation 43 days ago
  • Paula Smith sponsored Paula Smith
    “Kicking things off with my own personal donation to fight kids' cancer!”
    $51.75
    Received this donation 54 days ago
  • Stephanie Schriner sponsored Stephanie Schriner
    “Kicking things off with my own personal donation to fight kids' cancer!”
    $51.75
    Received this donation 32 days ago
  • Facebook Fundraiser Donation sponsored Stephanie Schriner
    $51.52
    Received this donation 32 days ago
  • Bob Arzadon sponsored Bob Arzadon
    $50
    Received this donation 44 days ago
  • Facebook Fundraiser Donation sponsored Andrew Carpenter
    $50
    Received this donation 37 days ago
  • Andre Varunok sponsored Andre Varunok
    “Kicking things off with my own personal donation to fight kids' cancer!”
    $36.23
    Received this donation 51 days ago
  • Anonymous sponsored April VanHaitsma
    $36.23
    Received this donation 48 days ago
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