Bravely fighting for kids with pediatric cancer until there is a cure.

In honor of McKenna Royer

Watch Our Story

The Brave Like McKenna Mission

Brave Like McKenna empowers children and families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis and supports pediatric cancer research. The Brave Like McKenna Foundation’s proceeds will  raise awareness, help bridge the research funding gap and meet the needs of children and families faced with pediatric cancer.

a family of five with a mom and dad and two daughters and a son sitting in the grass and looking up at the camera

Donate

Support our mission to support families navigating a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Resources

Learn about DIPG, DMG and pediatric cancer

Events

Join us at an upcoming foundation event!

a circle with the words brave like mckenna that looks like the ocean and a sun
Join us in the fight against pediatric cancer today by subscribing to our email list.

Upcoming Brave Like McKenna Events

Birthday Glow Walk

a young blonde girl with a tiara, sunglasses and sash on smiling for her birthday
  • $12.00 per person
  • September 7, 2024
  • 7-9 PM

Join us for our first annual Birthday Glow Walk to honor McKenna. The event will be held at Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, KS. Visit the link below to register.

Register Here

Giving Tuesday

a circle with the words brave like mckenna that looks like the ocean and a sun
  • Varies
  • December 3, 2024
  • All Day

Giving Tuesday is an online event where we will be asking for donations to support our foundation so we can support families who are fighting for their kids.

Info Coming Soon

Golf Tournament

a circle with the words brave like mckenna that looks like the ocean and a sun
  • TBD
  • 2025
  • TBD

Our first golf tournament will be held in spring/summer 2025. Join our email list so you are the first to learn more about this upcoming event!

Info Coming Soon
two young girls in Paris in front of a shop with a ton of red flowers and bistro tables
a girl in yellow stars and smiling at disney world

McKenna’s Story

The Brave Like McKenna Foundation was created in honor of our daughter,  McKenna Royer, who lost her battle to DMG February 26, 2024.  McKenna courageously and bravely battled DMG, a rare and aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer. She marched through treatments and physical setbacks with such determination.

Learn more about our story

Brave Like McKenna
Board of Directors

a blonde woman and brunette man who have their arms around each other looking at the camera and smiling

Janell Royer

Founder

Ashley Daher

Executive Director
a blonde woman with a blue shirt on and a coral necklace smiling at the camera

Annie Oliveri

Treasurer
a red hair woman in a black and white shirt smiling at the camera

Allison Brondell

secretary
a blonde woman in a white dress with colored vertical stripes smiling at the camera

Amy Reinecke

Communications

avery Royer

junior board
blonde haired girl leaning against a stone wall in a white shirt and smiling

ava Metcalf

junior board
two girls, one in a red flower dress and one in an aztec shirt with sunglasses on it and a backwards hat looking at the camera and smiling

Sienna & Maebelle Suderman

junior board

Memories of McKenna

She is the kindest, sweetest, most loyal person on this earth. I don’t know how to say goodbye. I love you.
Cadence- Friend
McKenna was always such a bright light in our day. Throughout treatment she had a smile on her face even when she was having a hard day.
Abby & Sara- Nurses
She is the best girl I have ever met. I love her, she will always be loved
Harper- Friend
Some of my favorite memories of McKenna are celebrating our birthdays together, finger painting everything when we were little, playing dress up and pretending to be twins.
Sadie- Friend