Atrium Health Foundation

On June 22, Atrium Health Foundation and the Carolina Panthers hosted the 14th Annual Keep Pounding 5K, raising over $126,000 for cancer programs at Atrium Health. Presented by Rodgers Builders, Inc., the event broke attendance records, with nearly 1,800 participants completing the race that went from Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. We are deeply grateful to this community – led by generous corporate sponsors – for its relentless support of cancer research and care programs at Atrium Health Levine Cancer and Atrium Health Levine Children's. Read more: https://bit.ly/3XDJZEw

#KeepPounding! Amazing event with over 1700 runners from Atrium Health #LevineCancer to Carolina Panthers home field! Huge shoutout to the runners, sponsors, Queen City News Kaci Jones raising over $4.5M for cancer research over the past 20 years Atrium Health Levine Children's Advocate Health Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center Wake Forest University School of Medicine Stacy Nicholson Donna Feild Javier Oesterheld Jean Chai Atrium Health Foundation

Meet our special guests, Travis and Cameron, who are helping to kick off the Keep Pounding 5K! Travis has worked at Atrium Health MedCenter Air for 20 years, transporting organs to transplant patients. Then he found himself on the transplant list after battling a neuroendocrine tumor for nearly three years at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute. Thankfully, in March, Travis received a new liver and is on a path to recovery. At just 10 years old, Cameron received the shocking news that he had leukemia. He spent Christmas in the hospital and more than five months undergoing treatment at Atrium Health Levine Children's. Now he’s in remission and excited to spend the summer fishing and being outside. When asked what their Keep Pounding message would be to other patients facing a cancer diagnosis, they said: “Don’t give up. It’s not over. Fight your way through it and keep a positive attitude.” - Travis “Never give up, no matter how hard things get. It means to KICK cancer’s butt!” - Cameron

The 14th Annual Keep Pounding 5K, presented by Rodgers Builders, Inc., is just around the corner! In partnership with the Carolina Panthers, we look forward to welcoming a record number of people to tomorrow's race as we raise money for cancer care programs and clinical research at Atrium Health Levine Cancer and Atrium Health Levine Children's! It takes a team to pound out cancer, and we’re deeply grateful to our corporate sponsors that are leading the way: Rodgers Builders Inc. APM Terminals JELD-WEN, Inc. DeMayo Law Offices, LLP Pfizer Office Environments Mimik Tattoo Perspire Sauna Studio

When Cameron began experiencing shoulder and arm pain, it could have been easily attributed to being an active kid. But when it quickly worsened, his family knew something was wrong and took him to urgent care, then to Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital for further testing. Blood work, an MRI, and other tests confirmed he had acute myeloid leukemia. Despite the devastating diagnosis, Cameron quickly found bright spots at Levine Children's, including the friendships he made with his 11th floor care team. He also benefited from programming at Seacrest Studios and visits from facility dog, Sprout. Now, after almost five months, four rounds of chemotherapy, and 72 days in the hospital, Cameron is in remission! He recently celebrated this incredible milestone by ringing the end-of-treatment bell. Read more about his journey at Atrium Health: https://bit.ly/4etZyEA

The Charlotte Knights recently hosted two fundraisers for Atrium Health, demonstrating their commitment to patients and families in our community: ⛳ The team swapped out their bats for clubs at the annual Charlotte Knights Charities Golf Classic, raising a record-breaking $41,613 to support renovations to the rehabilitation therapy playroom at Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital. 🌷 In partnership with Charlotte Radiology, the Charlotte Knights hosted the annual Pink Knights game at Truist Field. The special event honored breast cancer survivors and raised $27,544 for Levine Cancer: Project PINK, helping to ensure women in our community have access to screening mammograms. When it comes to giving back, this team always steps up to the plate, and for that we're truly grateful!

Rodgers Builders, Inc. continues to lay the foundation for world-class care while giving generously to programs at Atrium Health. For more than a decade, our construction partner has been a lead sponsor of the Keep Pounding 5K, supporting cancer care and research at Atrium Health Levine Cancer and Atrium Health Levine Children's. At last year's race, Rodgers Builders Executive Vice President Steve Phifer said it best, “Part of our mission statement is to Build Community with Care, and what better way to do that than build incredible facilities that nobody ever wants to go to, but you’re very happy they’re there when you need them.” This year, Rodgers Builders returns as the presenting sponsor of the race, and its team is ready to pound out cancer! KeepPounding5K.org

When Lauren started experiencing knee pain, then a sudden lump on her leg appeared, her family took her to the doctor. Within three days, they were traveling to Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital, where further tests confirmed Lauren had stage 3 Ewing's sarcoma – a rare, highly metastatic cancer that occurs primarily in the bone or soft tissue. “As a family, we were terrified by the news,” said Lauren’s mother, Sara. “Everything was happening so quickly – you do not have time to process the information that you are being given.” Lauren underwent surgery to have her left knee and a large portion of her femur replaced. Now she’s halfway through her chemotherapy treatment. While it’s been a difficult journey, Lauren is determined to “keep going, take things day by day, and to focus on the finish line.” In fact, her family has a “Chemo Countdown” in the kitchen to keep track of how many days and rounds of treatment she has left. Lauren’s courage and strength embody the meaning of ‘Keep Pounding.’ On June 22, community members will participate in the annual Keep Pounding 5K, presented by Rodgers Builders, Inc., in support of kids like her. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ReldGM

Our cancer care team is “ARISE”ing to the occasion!   Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital is proud to announce ARISE, Alliance for Research and Innovations in Pediatric Oncology. This is a newly formed coalition created with one shining goal in mind: to better the lives of children, adolescents and young adults with cancer – now and in the future.   We’ve invited all children’s hospitals in North Carolina and South Carolina to be inaugural members. By joining hands with our surrounding children’s hospitals, ARISE will pave the way to groundbreaking advancements in cancer treatment, perform innovative research, and improve quality of life for children with cancer.   The future is bright, and we are so grateful to be leading the way! Learn more about ARISE here: https://lnkd.in/e-ygvR9G

For nearly 17 years, Teri Mehall has supported countless families through their cancer journeys as a pediatric oncology nurse at Atrium Health Levine Children's. But in November 2022, Teri began her own personal battle with stage 3a melanoma. While she was nervous to transition from her role as nurse to patient, Teri found comfort knowing she was in the best possible care at Atrium Health Levine Cancer. “So many people have helped me along my journey, and I can only hope I am doing that for others,” said Teri. “Knowing this disease continues to affect so many people is a constant reminder for me that we have so much work to do.” On Saturday, June 22, Teri will run in the #KeepPounding5K to help raise money for clinical research and cancer care programs at Atrium Health. She has participated for many years in support of her patients. Now she also runs to honor every member of her care team that has played an important role in her healing. Read more: https://bit.ly/3R7y4KX