How One Night at the Georgia Aquarium Raised Over $1 Million for Childhood Cancer Research
A couple of years ago, I joined the Atlanta Clemson Club in volunteering for the Rally Foundation’s Benefit Bash in the Oceans Ballroom at the Georgia Aquarium. I left with a full heart and a sense of being part of something momentous. Having been touched by cancer in my own family - as far too many of us are - I have followed Rally closely since that first event and happily put volunteering for Rally on the Runway on my calendar for Friday, April 25, 2025.
About the Rally Foundation: Fighting for Childhood Cancer Research
Back in January we hosted Dean Crowe, Rally’s founder and CEO, on the Southern Character podcast. I knew a little bit about the organization but I learned so much more from the episode. I learned that children get different cancers than adults and on a federal level, the Big Four (lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate) are the primary cancers receiving funding, and out of more than 200 cancer drugs, only six are specifically for childhood cancers.
Dean also shared what inspired the organization’s founding with our listeners. Dean’s son was on a local baseball team with a child named William, who became the first Rally Kid. William and Dean’s husband Reid shared a strong connection and friendship, and when William was in the hospital, Dean’s Bible study group started a prayer circle in his driveway that lasted for a full year. Dean immediately got to work, recognizing that there was a very big need for family support through childhood cancer’s devastating impact.
In Fall of 2024 Dean won the inaugural Harvard Business School Club of Atlanta Social Impact Award for her advocacy for funding under the Department of Defense, securing $223 Million for cancers in children, adolescents, and young adults since 2015. For every dollar donated to Rally, $0.93 goes to support Rally’s mission.
What is Rally on the Runway?
Host of the event, Kristin Klingshirn from Q100’s The Bert Show with Rally Kid Sarah’s painting
Rally on the Runway started in a Dillard’s 15 years ago and has quickly become a major event for Rally, with events also taking place in Pensacola and Nashville. The show started around 7pm following a beautiful buffet-style dinner for guests and the start of the silent auction.
The party kicked off with a peppy pop song promenade sponsored by Dillard’s and the introductions to the emcees and honorary Rally Kids, including Fletcher, who later auctioned off two of his homemade banana bread loaves for a total of $14,000. Following that, there was a second, longer fashion show where several of the Atlanta Falcons players escorted the children.
Rally Kid Sarah’s Butterfly Painting
There were six opportunities to bid, ranging from $50 Impact Bracelets to $10,000 sponsorships. One very special moment stood out to me in which they auctioned off Rally Kid Sarah’s Monarch Butterfly painting for $28,000. When Sarah knew treatment was no longer an option, she painted this butterfly, which was inspired by her faith and knowledge that Monarch butterflies travel long distances and overcome obstacles much larger than themselves. Each year this painting is sold at the auction and returned the following year in exchange for a print so that it can continuously make a positive impact. In addition, each year at Rally on the Runway Atlanta the Butterfly Award is presented in Sarah’s honor to one exemplary individual fully committed to the mission.
Donating to the Rally Foundation
I was incredibly touched and inspired by the generosity as each guest united together against childhood cancer, raising $1,196,011 on Friday night. The event was beautiful and I feel blessed to be a small part of the magic. I’d like to keep giving back to this special group that has provided so much support to our community and I encourage our readers to listen to Dean’s episode to learn about the impactful work that they do to support these children.
As they so enthusiastically say: Rally On!