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.
Inspiration Stories
The Sky Is the Limit: My Cancer Story

Fresh out of dental school, newly married, and in the best shape of his life, the last thing Kyle would’ve expected is to be diagnosed with cancer a year later. His story helps portray the roller coaster of emotions and offers hope to others that some of t
Buy the Tickets!

Tiffany shares important advice she has learned because of her brain tumor diagnosis. Despite facing multiple recurrences and undergoing numerous treatments, she uses her voice to advocate and spread awareness for the brain tumor community.
Three Important Things I learned from my Ependymoma Journey

At 41 years of age, with four kids, an active and healthy lifestyle, a satisfying career, Pierre’s life was put on pause when some unrelated tests led all the pieces of a puzzle of symptoms to suddenly fall into place and paint a shocking picture. When he
On a Mission

After battling ependymoma and a recurrence, Taylor is on a mission to be a voice, advocate, and friend to those who need it most fighting this disease.
Share Your Story
Help others who are going through similar experiences by sharing your ependymoma journey.
Events
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.
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!
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2020

On May 3, 2020, CERN held the ninth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day with a virtual butterfly release.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2019

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