Founding families
The Agnews
Carolyn and Mark live in the north suburbs of Chicago with their four kids, Molly, Ellie, James and Henry, and a chocolate lab named Boomer. In January 2019, Mark had a seizure and was diagnosed with stage II brain cancer. For Mark, who was then CEO of Chicago’s beloved pizza institution Lou Malnati’s, life would never be the same.
The Hlavaceks
Jeff and Erika, both airline pilots, live in Wilmette, Illinois with their kids Francesca and Antonio. When Erika, who didn’t have any risk factors, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, the family’s world was turned upside down. Then Jeff was diagnosed with stage IIIb colorectal cancer.
The Smiths
The Smith 6, as their family and friends often call them, have called Wilmette, IL home since Ned accepted a professorship at the nearby Northwestern University in 2013. Five years later, in late December 2018, the family received the shock of their lives when Ned was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive form of primary brain cancer. Erin and Ned knew it would take a village to navigate their family’s cancer journey, not only for themselves, but also for their four children, Finn, Beckett, Eliza, and Cecily.