Why We Ride: Bedford PMC Kids Ride's Pedal Partner, 18-month-old Stella Downey

Stella Downey, an 18-month-old Neuroblastoma patient, is Bedford’s 2018 Pedal Partner – Courtesy image (c) 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view a larger image

Submitted by the Bedford PMC Kids Ride

The Downey family – Team Super Stella – during a recent PMC event at Fenway Park – Image (c) Jennifer Piliero, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view a larger image

Stella Downey is a bubbly, cheerful 18-month-old toddler who loves music, dogs and snuggling with her parents. Her sweet smile and beautiful eyes hide the fact that earlier this year she battled neuroblastoma and spent countless hours and days at Dana-Farber undergoing intense treatment for what is often referred to as a “silent cancer”.

According to the American Cancer Society, ” Neuroblastoma is by far the most common cancer in infants (less than 1 year old). It accounts for about 6% of all cancers in children. There are about 800 new cases of neuroblastoma each year in the United States. … The average age of children when they are diagnosed is about 1 to 2 years”

I had the privilege of meeting Stella and her family in May at Fenway Park at the Pedal Partner event. Stella was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in January. It was detected when her parents noticed she was having trouble moving and learning to walk. Immediately upon diagnosis, Stella started intense treatment on the tumor in her spine. Thanks to the wonderful team at Dana-Farber, Stella was given amazing care and was able to benefit from the research and treatment related to pediatric cancer. She was given a clean bill of health at the end of March and is now busy being a toddler and learning how to walk- chasing her twin brother Thomas and exploring the world around her.

Please join us next Saturday, June 16th at the Bedford PMC Kids Ride. Several hundred children will jump on their bikes and tricycles to raise money so that children such as Stella will have a positive outcome. Our pedal partner Stella and her family (Team Super Stella) will be there to meet our young riders and their families. As a community, we will continue to ride and raise funds until we have more success stories like Stella. Sadly, we know that many children do not win their battle with cancer. We will be honoring children in our community who we have lost to cancer by displaying their photos at the Ride.

We are eternally grateful that the funds raised over the years have given Stella a chance to hop on a bike and ride with us all one day.