The Heavy Wait

The intersection of gratitude & lament during childhood cancer.

Emily Whitehead Foundation- Believe Ball

A group of four people, including three children dressed in formal attire and one adult woman, pose together in front of a 'Believe Ball' event backdrop featuring sponsor logos.
A young boy smiling in a purple patterned suit with a black lapel, standing confidently at a formal event decorated with elegant tables and floral arrangements in the background.
Text graphic featuring the words 'Believe Ball' in a cursive font with star accents.

The Believe Ball is the Emily Whitehead Foundation’s signature fundraising event where patients and their families, leaders in the advanced therapies community, and esteemed guests and supporters gather in Philadelphia to celebrate patients.

This inspiring event celebrates the courageous journey of patients and their families and supports a brighter future for all patients who can be treated with advanced therapies.

Learn more about Sponsorship

Posts on the Believe Ball

A child in formal attire reads a pamphlet titled 'Inspiring Stories' and 'Meet Our Heroes' at an event, while another child in the background observes.

The Believe Ball 2022

“The hope, the trauma, the triumph, the unknowns. These children didn’t sign-up to be royalty in the immunotherapy realm and yet here they are.”

Two young boys in black suits and ties, smiling and posing together with arms around each other. They are in front of a backdrop featuring the 'Believe Ball' event and 'Emily Whitehead Foundation' logos.

The Well-Adjusted Sibling

To celebrate survival, not as a patient, but as his best brother.

A family posing for a selfie in a bathroom mirror. The group includes two children, one wearing a suit and the other in formal attire, and two adults, one in a stylish dress and the other in a plaid jacket. Various grooming products are visible on the countertop.

Preparing for a Ball

“We put on the “CAR T FAMILY” buttons that had come in our welcome bag. Royalty, identified by handmade buttons.”

A child holding a sign that reads '18 months cancer free' at a fundraising event, with an audience in formal attire in the foreground.

Beaudin L. #1

A bit later the gentleman we had chatted with came and found us at our table, handing Beaudin his program. 

“Hey, could I get your autograph?”

A large group of people, including children and adults, posing together on stage at an event. The backdrop features the words 'WRITE A BETTER STORY' in large letters, and there are purple balloons decorating the scene.

Heavy is the Head

“Neither of us took our eyes off of our babies but between us hung the dull ache of what it means for our children to have even a drop of vanity left in their precious bodies.”

A group of four people pose for a photo at the Believe Ball, with a sparkling backdrop featuring the Emily Whitehead Foundation logo. Two boys in suits hold signs that say 'Activate'. A woman in a glittering dress and a man in a checkered suit stand beside them, all smiling.

Only if we help, shall all be saved.

“CAR T. It’s good medicine, but it’s not great. And we won’t stop until it saves every last one of these kids, even if the people in back chatter while we speak.”