Celebrating Madelyn James Didio Day in Alexandria VA

Join us in honoring the legacy of Madelyn James Didio with a day of celebration in Alexandria VA.

Honoring Madelyn James Didio's Legacy

June 13, 2024 was a big day for all of us at Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The City of Alexandria, VA under the leadership of Mayor Justin Wilson and presented by City Council-member, Alyia Gaskins, presented our founders, Jackie and Dan Didio with a declaration of "Madelyn James Didio Day" at our second annual Bow Bash.

We toasted to our namesake: Maddy. We celebrated to the life of their amazing, fierce, feisty, gritty, graceful, loving, sweet little girl.The Didio family embarked on their journey in Northern Virginia, planting their roots in the heart of Alexandria. As they come full circle, returning to where it all began, the echoes of their story resonate through the community, weaving a tapestry of love, resilience, and hope. This moment symbolizes not only a celebration of Madelyn's legacy but also a testament to the strength and unity that binds their family and the people of Alexandria together.

The Madelyn James Bow Bash Fundraising Event

We celebrated at the ALX Community Waterfront Space with 120 amazing supporters and we raised $56,715 (and met our goal!)

Thanks to the incredible support from our community and a generous anonymous matching gift, we are thrilled to announce that we are now able to expand our partnership with Children's National in Washington, DC. This collaboration allows us to offer even more comprehensive support for families as they navigate the challenges of having a child with cancer.

Through this partnership, we will be able to provide specialized medical care, emotional support, and resources to families facing pediatric cancer. Our goal is to ensure that no family ever feels alone in their journey and that they have access to the best possible care and support during this difficult time.

With the backing of our DC Area community and the additional support from Children's National, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of these families and continuing Madelyn's legacy: access and equity. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible, your generosity and kindness supports families going through childhood cancer treatments and after treatments. 

One of our favorite moments was sharing our accomplishments over the past two years:

• Paying 28 rent payments
• Paying off two car loans for two families
• Paying off medical debt from an out-of-state family
• Ringing the bell for two stem cell transplants and one radiation cycle
• Violeta going home after a 9 month hospital stay
• Celebrating Violeta’s one-year-old birthday
• Celebrating Zane’s two-year-old birthday and three-year-old birthday 

And, we shared a video from Zane's parents who shared the "behind the scenes" at Madelyn James. 

The evening was truly extraordinary! A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated host committee, volunteers, and exceptional team. Additionally, the team wanted to keep the auction small and meaningful for the 2024 Bow Bash. Each item was connected to the mission at Madelyn James in some way (an in-home movie night that will be donated to our new, DC family or you can bid on an in-home massage). When your family is going through a childhood cancer diagnosis, finding some moments of refresh as a caregiver are critical to ensure you can make the best decisions possible for your child or children. 

The Madelyn James Bow Bash Fundraising Event was a wonderful, fun, heart-felt opportunity for the community to come together, celebrate Madelyn's legacy, and support their mission: to increase access and equity in pediatric cancer. 

Double "Maddy" Waves for our Sponsors!

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude businesses and sponsors who have generously supported the the Bow Bash.

These businesses and sponsors have played a crucial role in ensuring the success of this event and the impact it will have on our community.

Purple Bow Sponsors

Yellow Bow Sponsors

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Blue Bow Sponsors

Orange Bow Sponsors

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Pink Bow Sponsors

We encourage everyone in attendance to show their appreciation by checking out these amazing businesses and sponsors. By supporting them, we are not only expressing our gratitude but also contributing to the growth and prosperity of our community as a whole.

Future Plans and Continued Celebrations

Madelyn James Didio Day in Alexandria, VA is just the beginning of our efforts to continue celebrating Madelyn's legacy and making a positive impact in our community.

We hope you can join us for our Golf Tournament outside of Philadelphia, our inaugural Purple Bow Cup, on July 15th!

And, save the date! Our Philadelphia Bow Bash will be on Saturday, November 9th. 

We hope everyone will continue to stay connected and engaged through our community. Thank you!

Check out more event photos here