B
efore 2013, Rally Pensacola was not
foreseen as part of Cindi Bonner’s
future goals. Neither was engaging
in raising awareness for Childhood
Cancer. Rally Pensacola had a very organic
beginning in the community. When Cindi’s
neighbor was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma
at the age of four, she felt compelled to do
something to help. They were bombarded with
questions, texts, and phone calls and needed
a way to answer everyone’s kind concerns
while at the same time focusing on their
daughter. Cindi, being a doer, built a website
and Facebook page that would help keep
their people informed. In this process, Cindi
educated herself about childhood cancer and
was astounded by what she read and learned.
Not only is childhood cancer NOT rare, it is
also severely underfunded for research. Cindi
commented, “The people I came in contact
with and the families I connected with and
watched fi ght the horrible battle, changed me.
I could no longer turn my back, I knew too
much and had seen too much. I knew more had
to be done in Pensacola.” Cindi established
Rally Pensacola in the fall of 2015 and raised
$100,000 in the fi rst year of operation.
Rally Pensacola is an extension city for Rally
Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research
(Rally). Each city brings its own uniqueness to
their city chapter. The organization is working
together under one 501(c)3 towards the
common mission to fi nd better treatments with
fewer long term side-effects and, ultimately,
cures for childhood cancer. Rally supports
Rally Pensacola with their expertise and
leadership. The staff in Atlanta is available to
help assist when necessary in all departments,
from marketing, development, special events,
fundraising, and advocacy. Together, their
efforts fund the most promising, cutting-edge
childhood cancer research across the world,
while simultaneously supporting local families
affected by this disease.
Rally Pensacola has established a Family
Emergency Fund, which offers fi nancial relief
to families in need. This allows the parent(s)
to remain more focused on the well being
of the child. Rally Pensacola will provide
$1,500 annually towards bills (paying invoices
directly) to local families who are currently
fi ghting childhood cancer. The dollars are
raised through generous individual donors,
grants, and fundraising events.
Rally Pensacola is community based,
community supported, and volunteer driven.
They serve children right here who are
fi ghting cancer. There is one part-time staff
member that was added last year through an
endowment.
Rally works at 92% effi ciency, therefore the
dollars raised are truly being spent on their
mission. 50% of all funds raised in Pensacola
go to help local families fi ghting childhood
cancer through the Family Emergency Fund.
The other half goes toward research to help
fi nd safer and more effective treatment options
for all children battling cancer, and ultimately
fi nd cures. Only 4% of the National Cancer
Institute’s fi ve billion dollar budget is spent on
childhood cancer research. Rally Pensacola will
continue their fi ght for children and families
faced with cancer until a cure for Childhood
Cancer can be found.
Learn more at rallyfoundation.org/our-
team/rally-pensacola.
story by
Greg Alexander
|
photos provided by
Rally! Pensacola
RallyKid Isaiah
RallyKid Van
58 | VIPPensacola.com
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