#EllaStrong
Sharing light, love and hope to kids with cancer
Ella was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma on her ninth birthday. What we watched in the hospital that day — strangers showering her with gifts, other kids finding the good in hard moments — changed us. The day she finished treatment we promised to keep going for the families still in those rooms.
- raised for pediatric cancer research
- $75,000+raised for pediatric cancer research
- new toys delivered to kids in the hospital
- 2,000+new toys delivered to kids in the hospital
- character Band-Aids delivered in one week
- 20,000character Band-Aids delivered in one week
Who we are
A family that turned a diagnosis into a mission
Ella finished treatment and was declared NED in January 2018. But she never stopped setting up lemonade stands for the kids still in the hospital. In 2019, what we called "Team Ella" became the EllaStrong Foundation.
Since then, our family and our neighbors have raised over $75,000 for pediatric cancer research, delivered over 2,000 toys, and shown up at oncology floors across Maryland and D.C. — because that's what was done for us.
Where the money goes
Doing more for pediatric cancer research
Every dollar raised goes to research for better treatments and cures for pediatric cancers, and to the nonprofits that make hospital days bearable for kids and the families beside them.
Research we've funded
- Alex's Lemonade Stand — grant for Ella's oncologist at Johns Hopkins, solid tumor research
- Children's National — solid tumor research for Ella's current oncologist
- Forever Fierce Foundation
- Just In Power Kids
- Believe in Tomorrow
- Check 6 Foundation
- Make-A-Wish
- Ari's Bears
Hospitals we've served
- Johns Hopkins
- Children's National Medical Center
- Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
- University of Maryland Medical Center
- Believe in Tomorrow Children's House
- Ronald McDonald House Charities
The toy drive
Over 2,000 toys to kids who need a smile
A year after Ella's diagnosis, she started collecting toys for the kids still in the hospital. What began as a goal of 500 has grown into an annual Christmas toy drive delivering over 2,000 new toys to oncology floors across Maryland and D.C. — Johns Hopkins, Children's National, Anne Arundel, Believe in Tomorrow, and Ronald McDonald House.
During the pandemic we switched gears and dropped off protective gowns, homemade masks for staff and patients, and Build-a-Bears for the pediatric ER. When the hospital needed character Band-Aids, Ella reached out and in one week delivered nearly 20,000.
See all the giving
How we raise it
Lemonade stands, toy drives, and community events
It started with a lemonade stand. Then came the youth triathlons, the spin-a-thons, the lacrosse nights, the Santa fundraisers, and our annual Virtual 5K. Every one of them turns neighbor goodwill into real research dollars.
Get involvedYoung Philanthropist of the Year
Anne Arundel County, 2022 — Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County
Also a Just In Power Kids grant recipient and ambassador.
"The hospital can be a stressful place for a sick or injured child. Anytime there is an opportunity for a smile, it makes the experience a little easier. Ella Edwards has made hundreds of smiles at LHAAMC."
In the press
Ella's story in the news
Moments
The community behind #EllaStrong
Help us keep showing up
Every dollar goes toward research and support for children with cancer and their families.