Meet Eleanor, 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.
Eleanor’s Story
Eleanor was diagnosed with stage four Wilms tumor when she was just two years old.
“The sterile environment of hospitals, the beeping of machines, and the scent of antiseptic became my childhood reality, replacing the carefree play of my peers with surgeries, chemotherapy, and constant medical appointments,” she told us. “My treatment was intense and included the removal of my kidney followed by a lengthy course of chemotherapy. Though I can’t recall every detail, the emotional scars remain vivid: the fatigue that weighed me down, the times I felt too tired to join my friends, and the isolation of being a child who wasn’t able to play like everyone else.”
Eleanor remembers a childhood filled with stressful scans and fears of recurrence, and of sitting out of playtime when her body couldn’t quite keep up with friends. But she also remembers learning resilience and empathy, skills that have helped her grow into who she is today.
“Setbacks don’t break me—they became opportunities for growth. I face every challenge with determination, knowing that the obstacles I've overcome have prepared me for whatever lies ahead.”
Eleanor plans to major in English Lit at Biola University.
Eleanor’s Advocacy Project
For her volunteer project, Eleanor plans to launch a peer-to-peer mental health support program for survivors.
“While the physical battles of cancer often dominate the conversation, the emotional toll—such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD—rarely receives the same level of attention,” she says. “Having personally experienced the lingering effects of childhood cancer, I am deeply passionate about addressing these invisible scars.”
Eleanor is calling her project “Healing Beyond the Cure.” She hopes to collaborate with local hospitals, survivorship experts, and mental health professionals to create online program materials and digital toolkits with elements such as journaling prompts, art therapy templates, and mindfulness guides.
She aims to trial the program through a small pilot group during the 2025-2026 school year and host a virtual mental health workshop or art-sharing session.
She also plans to include a social media campaign that incorporates elements of her digital toolkit and raises awareness around the mental health burden of cancer survivorship in young people.