Meet Bailey, 2025 Scholar
Thanks to a generous survivorship program grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels, twenty-two survivors were welcomed into the 2025 Children’s Cancer Cause College Scholars Program, representing both organizations’ strong investment in survivors and belief in their bright futures.
Each of these students receive a financial scholarship to help with academic expenses, and each Scholar commits to undertaking a volunteer project of their choosing related to childhood cancer advocacy.
Bailey’s Story
“Having survived cancer twice—first as a baby and again as a teenager—I have witnessed firsthand the fragility of life and the courage required to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.”
Bailey was diagnosed with neuroblastoma as an infant, and then - 17 years later as a high school senior - papillary thyroid cancer.
“Cancer has shaped my life in ways both painful and transformative, fueling my determination to make a meaningful difference for others facing similar battles,” she told us.
“I can't tell if I want to be a doctor because I had cancer, or if it was what I always would have done, but regardless, it is what I will do,” she told us about her goal to one day become a pediatric oncologist.
“I want to be able to do what was done for me: give others a chance at life. I want to provide care and support to young patients and their families, making a difference in their lives. My experiences have prepared me for the road to becoming a doctor, and I am committed to using my education to help children battling cancer live fuller, happier lives.”
“I will never let a thing like cancer bring me down. I have beaten it once, and I will beat it again. Then I will study it, understand it, and ultimately make this entire world change.”
In pursuit of her goals, Bailey plans to pursue a pre-med degree in neuroscience from Boise State University.
Bailey’s Advocacy Project
For her volunteer project, Bailey is planning a mentorship program to help connect medical students who hope to one day work in pediatric oncology with established clinicians in the field.
“I envision a network designed to educate and empower the next generation of cancer care providers,” she explains. “The program will offer personalized guidance, clinical exposure, and research opportunities that are essential for building a career in pediatric oncology.”