That Time of Year

It’s that time of year again. As we turn the page on 2025 and move into 2026 we’re reminded of time gone by. We all have a complicated relationship with time, sometimes wishing it would slow down, other times that it would speed up, and occasionally looking back wondering where it all went. Today, January 5, would have been Drew’s 24th birthday. Drew was the strongest person we’ve ever known, the youngest teacher we’ve ever had, and the best example of how to live. As we embark on a new year, a new timeline, we reflect back on what we’ve accomplished these past 12 months.

In 2025 the Foundation took a significant step forward, growing in scope and philanthropic impact. We continued our mission in the state of Michigan with the 4th Annual Michigan Golf Outing and established ourselves in the state of Texas with our 1st Texas Golf Outing. With these events, and the continued support of our donors throughout the year, we brought our total impact to $134,000 to the Atrium Health Foundation dedicated to Ewing’s sarcoma research. We almost didn’t see it happening, but looking back on 2025 it’s clear that the Foundation has upped its game and its impact in the fight against Ewing’s. We know that this step forward was propelled by the unwavering commitment of our supporters. To those of you who knew Drew and were blessed to spend time with him, and to those who did not but chose to spend time with us this year we simply say: Thank You.

2025 also saw a uniquely momentous day for us. Last month the Foundation took a trip back to Charlotte and met with Drew’s care team. We were given a tour of the 4-year-old clinic that is doing impressive research impacting several rare pediatric cancers, including Ewing’s sarcoma. For the past 30 years, treatment options and patient outcomes have remained largely unchanged for those with Ewing’s, but the work being done at the Levine Children’s Pediatric Oncology Research Lab is changing all of that. Their work has led to a deeper understanding of Ewing’s, new clinical trials, and personalized treatment strategies, all just in the last year. The research team allowed us to see the important equipment that is fueling new discoveries giving us an up-close look at this incredible process. We also learned about additional equipment the lab could use to make a greater impact on research, inspiring new and ambitious goals for the Foundation to help achieve. Later this spring, we’ll be sending out a message from the team at Levine Children’s with more details on the science behind the work being done and our impact on it.

Drew’s Foundation is not about dwelling on the time that brought us here, but about helping us to celebrate the time we were so incredibly blessed to have with him. 2025 showed us that there is utility in looking back so long as it inevitably propels us forward. We took a tremendous leap forward last year and are excited about the time that 2026 will afford us to keep moving. We can’t think of a better way to spend that time than to spend it with all of you, together.