About Us
Meet riley's Team
Kamie Fessenden
Riley's Mom
Co-Founder
Riley's Dad
Todd Fessenden
Co-Founder
Kendel Davy
Family Outreach Representative
Meghan Fessenden
Riley's Sister
Director of social media marketing
Amy Nesbit
Development coordinator
Cameron Jones
Community outreach coordinator
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There are plenty of ways you can help contribute to The Riley Rocks Foundation.
Our Inspiration
Riley's Story
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“We raise funds so that kids don’t have to spend summers inside a hospital. So that little girls don’t have to worry about covering up their bald head. So the next little girl who just wants to grow up to be a preschool teacher, can.”
- Riley's Team
Riley Bridget Fessenden was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on April 9, 2007. She is the daughter of Todd and Kamie Fessenden and sister to Drew, Meghan, and Daniel Fessenden. Riley wanted to be a preschool teacher when she grew up. She was the most positive little girl and she always had a smile on her face.
Shortly after Riley’s 6th birthday she was diagnosed with stage four Esthesioneuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer affecting the nasal and brain cavities. When Riley was diagnosed the doctors told her parents she had three months to live. After 3 years, 104 radiation treatments, 14 rounds of chemotherapy, too many hospital stays, medications, and blood transfusions Riley was still fighting with courage and bravery that no child should have to express.
Riley was a cheerleader, softball player, and Irish step dancer. She often went straight from radiation to cheer practice. She spent birthdays, holidays, and multiple fundraisers donating toys, giftcards, and money to the hospitals and organizations that were a part of Riley’s battle. She told her story and did whatever it might take to make others smile.
The summer after Riley turned nine years old she passed away. The impact she made on others is truly remarkable. Days were named after her and parks were created in her memory. Tens of thousands of dollars continue to be raised for cancer research in her honor. Riley became a hero to so many. Riley may have lost her battle but she has taught us that there is always HOPE.
We support families fighting those same battles. Riley is just one story. One of way too many. We raise funds so that kids don’t have to spend summers inside a hospital. So that little girls don’t have to worry about covering up their bald head. So the next little girl who just wants to grow up to be a preschool teacher, can.
Understanding Childhood Cancer
Childhood cancer does not discriminate. It affects every ethnic group and socioeconomic class in every geographic region around the world.
- Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 19 in the U.S.
- One in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they are 20 years old.
- Every day in the U.S. 43 children between the ages of 0-19 are diagnosed with childhood cancer.
- 20% of those children will not survive.
- Survivors are twice as likely to suffer chronic health conditions.
- At any given time more than 40,000 children are on active treatment in the U.S.
- Childhood cancer is not one disease. There are hundreds of types of pediatric cancer.
You can help change these statistics! Know the facts, share the facts and share the stories of children behind these facts. By raising funding and awareness, researchers can move closer to understanding childhood cancers, treating childhood cancers and ultimately curing childhood cancers.