Awareness

The CERN Foundation is a collaborative network with a commitment to connecting patients and caregivers – in addition to medical providers – who deal with ependymoma.

This section of our site is dedicated to helping anyone affected by ependymoma connect with the foundation through patient stories and, perhaps most importantly, each other. And by creating more awareness of ependymoma, our hope is to increase public recognition of this rare tumor and the need for clinical studies to improve early diagnosis, standardize treatment and improve the health status of those living with this disease.

                                                           


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Inspiration Stories

Fortitude and Acceptance

John, a professional writer, describes his personal story with an ependymoma diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. John shares “I learned the only miracle in life is the fortitude to face and accept things, and I already have that.”

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Going from Healthcare Delivery to Healthcare Recipient

After years of unexplained symptoms, Amy went from nurse and clinical researcher in the field of pediatric neuro-oncology to being on the other side as a patient diagnosed with a rare spinal tumor. Amy gives personal insight and wisdom into her experience.

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Keep Believing

Ryan shares “I hope people learn to keep pushing and that it’s never too late. Even when I had cancer and I had to undergo my first surgery, we still kept hope and we never gave up. So keep believing and it's never too late.”

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Healing and Resilience

Hilary describes her personal experience with navigating a spinal tumor diagnosis in Australia and shares, “With the combination of medical science, personal determination, and the encouragement of those around me, I've discovered a newfound strength that

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Share Your Story

Help others who are going through similar experiences by sharing your ependymoma journey.



Events

Ependymoma Awareness Day 2024

Patients, care partners, and medical professionals from around the world dedicate May 5, 2024 as the 13th annual international Ependymoma Awareness Day!

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2023

The ependymoma community dedicated May 10, 2023 as the 12th annual Ependymoma Awareness Day and a butterfly release was held in Bethesda, MD to commemorate the day.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2022

In an effort to raise awareness of ependymoma, patients, caregivers and medical professionals from around the world dedicate May 10, 2022 as the eleventh annual Ependymoma Awareness Day.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2021

Patients, care partners and medical professionals from around the world dedicate May 10, 2021 as the tenth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day!

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2020

On May 3, 2020, CERN held the ninth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day with a virtual butterfly release.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2019

Patients, caregivers and medical professionals from around the world dedicated May 5, 2019, as the eighth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day!

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2018

To commemorate the seventh Ependymoma Awareness Day, butterflies were released in Washington, DC by the ependymoma and brain tumor community on May 6, 2018.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2017

The ependymoma community dedicated May 8, 2017 as the sixth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day and a butterfly release was held in Arlington, Virginia to commemorate the day.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2016

For the fourth annual Awareness Day, a butterfly release was held on Monday, May 2, 2016 in Washington, DC during the National Brain Tumor Society's Head to the Hill event.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2015

A butterfly release was held at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 5, 2015 to commemorate the fourth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2014

In an effort to raise awareness of ependymoma, patients, caregivers and medical professionals from around the world dedicated April 10, 2014 as the third annual Awareness Day.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2013

Hundreds of brightly colored butterflies covered the skies over St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as they were released by patients and CERN investigators on April 18, 2013.

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Ependymoma Awareness Day 2012

CERN commemorated Awareness Day with a mass butterfly release that took place at the semi-annual CERN investigator meeting on April 19, 2012.

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Stay Informed with the CERN Newsletter

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