NEED TO KNOW
Rowan Rieve, 12, was first diagnosed with cancer over four years ago
Upon hearing about federal cuts to cancer research, Rowan and his friends started a lemonade stand, raising $22.25 for the cause
The story of Rowan and his lemonade stand inspired an anonymous person to contribute more than $100,000 to the cause
A 12-year-old boy in metro Atlanta with brain tumors raised $22 from a lemonade stand he set up for cancer research. The selfless act inspired an anonymous donor to contribute over $100,000 to the cause.
“With that lemonade stand, Rowan chose to give to help those who are dedicated to eradicating cancer in kids,” his parents Charlan and Bob Rieve told PEOPLE in a statement.
CBS affiliate WSB was first to report Rowan’s story. According to the outlet and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), Rowan went to the emergency room at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta when he was 8 years old after falling ill and appearing drained and gaunt.
After he underwent surgery, Rowan’s family learned their loved one had medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor common in children.
Rowan’s subsequent treatment included radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and he also had to relearn how to walk and talk.
Since then, he has been diagnosed with additional brain tumors, including a glioma and recurrent medulloblastoma, according to ALSF.
It was during testing that doctors learned that Rowan had Li Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), a condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough proteins to prevent cells from growing abnormally, thus leading to tumors, according to CURE Childhood Cancer.
Last year, Rowan learned about federal cuts to brain tumor research, WSB reported. That inspired him and his friends to start a lemonade and tea stand, which raised $22.25 for cancer research. He presented the money at his next doctor’s appointment.
“I felt that the hospital needed, I guess, more than I did,” Rowan told WSB.
A hospital room named in honor of Rowan Rieve
Credit: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Touched by his generosity, Dr. Tobey MacDonald, Rowan’s neuro-oncologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, shared his young patient’s story.
“First, I was absolutely floored by Rowan’s donation to help other children with cancer immediately upon hearing me just tell his mom that national funding had been cut for one of our most important clinical research groups aimed at finding new treatments to cure brain tumors in children,” MacDonald told PEOPLE in a statement. “This tells you of the unselfish and truly giving nature of this young man fighting for his own life!”
“Given that he never complains about the treatments we have given him over several years for two types of malignant brain tumors, I guess I should not have been surprised. That is Rowan,” MacDonald continued.
The story of Rowan and the lemonade stand went viral, prompting people to donate $22.25 in his honor — with one anonymous donor even stepping up with a contribution of $100,000, WSB reported.
“I was pleased but not shocked by the viral reaction since that is precisely the type of hope and light that Rowan inspires in others,” MacDonald said. “I am just happy that his story got out- I could not possibly keep to myself.
He added, “To me personally, this is exactly the reason I went into the field of pediatric cancer, and childhood brain tumors in particular, because you see such things from children that you can’t imagine and that simply inspire you to fight on and instill hope in all that we do.”
Charlan and Bob Rieve told PEOPLE they have long prayed for Rowan to be completely healed so that he can grow into a good man living a long life.
“We are humbled and honored to watch him lean into generosity and service to others despite or perhaps because of his own war on cancer that’s over four years and counting,” they said.
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They also noted Rowan’s determination to be an active participant in life despite his illness.
“We couldn’t be prouder of him! Rowan’s heart and light are inspiring people multiple times his age and still being himself—his sweet, smart, funny, quiet, kind self,” they said.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has established an online fundraiser to match Rowan’s initial $22.25 gift for cancer research.
Read the original article on People