Meet Helia
2026 Scholar
Brain Tumor Survivor
Thanks to a generous survivorship program grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels, twenty-three survivors were welcomed into the 2026 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.
Helia was diagnosed with an intercranial germinoma on her pituitary gland at age 13.
“The following year was filled with chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries, blood transfusions, and countless hospital visits,” she told us. “Much of my teenage years were spent in treatment and recovery rather than doing the things most kids my age were doing.”
Now in remission, Helia battles chronic conditions that require juggling doctors’ visits and medication with student life and navigating young adulthood.
“My experience with cancer has shaped who I am and the path I have chosen in life,” she says. “It has given me resilience, empathy, and a deep understanding of what patients and families go through during difficult medical journeys. Cancer became a defining moment in my life, but it did not define my limits.”
Today, she’s pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology and using her lived experience to better support other young cancer patients.
Helia’s Advocacy Project
Helia will be continuing to learn about and research evidence-based treatment for cancer patients in the hospital setting during the scholarship year through her practicum placement at a children’s hospital.
Drawing from both her personal and professional experience, she hopes to create a peer support group for adolescent cancer survivors to provide opportunities for connection, psychoeducation, and other wellness-oriented interventions.
“Cancer can be incredibly isolating, and creating community among survivors can be a powerful step toward healing,” Helia says. “When survivors come together, something powerful happens: the pain we once carried alone can begin to transform into purpose, advocacy, and hope for others walking the same path.”
