Elevate Voices
Elevate Voices shares the Stories of Survivors and Honors Those No Longer With Us
Elevate Voices is a platform amplifying the powerful stories of those impacted by childhood cancer—sharing survivor experiences and honoring those no longer with us. Survivors, families, and loved ones come together to raise awareness, drive advocacy, and support meaningful research and fundraising.
Childhood cancer leaves lifelong physical, emotional, and mental effects. Elevate Voices provides a supportive space to connect, be heard, and highlight the ongoing needs of survivors, including adolescents and young adults, as well as families honoring those no longer with us.
By sharing these voices, we build community, reduce isolation, and bring critical issues like survivorship and late effects into the spotlight. Whether you’re sharing your story, honoring someone you love, or advocating for change, Elevate Voices is here to amplify your impact—together inspiring action and a brighter future for all affected by childhood cancer.
Together, we can elevate awareness, inspire action to spark change, and make a lasting impact for all those affected by childhood cancer.
Our Voices
Justin Spoon is the son of Robyn & Joel Spoon, founders of Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy in the fall of 2023, shortly after their young adult son, Justin, passed away in March of that year due to a critical lack of treatments for childhood cancers—particularly the one he had been diagnosed with just a short time before.
Robyn reflects on the day Justin was diagnosed—a moment that changed the course of all their lives & what followed. What began as a devastating diagnosis eventually became the catalyst for Elevate.
Hear Mackenzie and her mom, Bonnie share on Elevate Voices.
“July 2021, just weeks after graduating high school, my daughter Mackenzie was on vacation in Nashville while I was working at the Tokyo Olympics. We were both stepping into new chapters until one phone call
changed everything At 5 AM Tokyo time, Mackenzie called, in excruciating pain with a spiking fever. I assumed it was appendicitis, but hours later, she told me doctors had discovered a volleyball-sized mass in her abdomen. She
was septic and needed emergency surgery. The tumor was wrapped around a major artery-too dangerous to remove. Doctors suspected lymphoma or, worse, a sarcoma. At that moment, I knew our lives had changed forever.”
–Bonnie Bruner, Mackenzie’s mom
In Memory of Chandler Nelson
“Ultimately, the toxic chemo is what caused his body to fail because we don’t have anything that can actually work to stop this cancer and we are using drugs that were developed over 50 years ago for the use on other cancers. The drugs are incredibly toxic to the body and even for those that may live longer than 2 years, causes a variety of other illnesses and cancers, that are side effects that children shouldn’t have to deal with their entire life.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS!!!!
This is exactly why we have decided to join Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy, because we believe in their mission:
Dramatically improve the lives of those diagnosed with childhood cancer: from diagnosis, through treatment, on to survivorship, and in some cases, the end of a child’s life.”
–Clint & Amber Nelson, Chandler’s parents
In Memory of Aaron Stone
“Aaron was your typical 16-year-old—he loved sports, played drums in a band, and worked as an umpire. In June 2015, when Aaron started having jaw pain, he thought it was just his wisdom teeth. A biopsy revealed Sclerosing Rhabdomyosarcoma, a subgroup of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Their world was turned upside down—“we have a kid with cancer. There are no words.”
Now is the time for Aaron’s voice to be heard! He’s not done yet! Our hope is that there will always be a ‘what’s next’?
Aaron lived his 18 years of life with grace, dignity and laughter. He made an impact on everyone he met. He did not achieve his goal of graduating from high school, but he achieved far more with his gift of laughter, friendship and love. He will be greatly missed.
Rock ON, Aaron!”
–Mike & LouAnn Stone,
Aaron’s parents
In Memory of Matthew Cleveland
Matthew was a lifelong baseball fan, playing from T-Ball at age four through Little League, travel teams, and Columbus North High School, and continuing with rec softball even after graduation. He earned a BS in Business with a minor in Business Management from Indiana University–Columbus in 2019 and began his career as an Accounts Manager at Elwood Staffing.
Matthew was a true foodie who loved discovering new restaurants and trying new recipes at home. He enjoyed traveling—especially to warm, sunny beaches—and had a special bond with his husky, Skye, whom he lovingly treated like royalty. Known for his sarcasm and humor, Matthew was deeply devoted to his family and close friends, who always felt his genuine love and respect.
After being diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, Matthew never lost his sense of humor or his deep love for family and friends.
Stay tuned for more voices coming soon!
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