Before we tell you about Savannah, we want to give you a quick update on our Annual Matching Challenge*. With three weeks to go, we’re 60% of the way to our $20,000 goal! YAY! From now until the end of the year, every donation (up to our goal) will be doubled, making this a perfect time to contribute to Team Summer!
Team Summer is a unique kid-to-kid giving program that connects kids with cancer to each other for mutual help and support. We do what we do because of kids like 7-year-old Savannah from Illinois.
Her story begins in the summer of 2024. Savannah was thrilled—she was about to start first grade, and couldn’t wait to make new friends and have new adventures! But then Savannah started getting headaches. At first, they seemed harmless—they came and went. Soon, though, nausea and occasional vomiting followed. Her pediatrician noticed enlarged tonsils and referred her to an ENT, but the appointment was months away.
While waiting, Savannah had an unrelated eye checkup. That appointment changed everything. The ophthalmologist noticed dangerous pressure behind her eye and sent her for an immediate MRI. The scan revealed a mass in Savannah’s brain. She was rushed by ambulance to a children’s hospital, where surgeons performed an emergency procedure to relieve the pressure.
That’s when her family heard the unthinkable: Savannah had brain cancer.
At the time, Savannah had only been in first grade for eight days. Her exciting new school year came to a screeching halt.
Just days later, she underwent brain surgery to remove the tumor. The operation was successful, but the aftermath was tough—Savannah temporarily lost the ability to walk and talk. She spent a month in rehab working hard to regain those skills. Then came weeks of radiation and over a year of chemotherapy. Through it all, instead of retreating into herself and becoming fearful, Savannah’s personality sparkled even brighter. Her mom says she loved chatting with everyone at the hospitals and clinics.
When Team Summer heard Savannah’s story from another family, we reached out to Team Summer kid Haylee—who battled leukemia for more than two years and knows exactly what it’s like to be a kid with cancer—to help us come up with the perfect gift to match Savannah’s shining spirit. Savannah’s mom told us she was crazy about Taylor Swift and loved to sing along to her albums. That gave us a great idea!
After welcoming Savannah to Team Summer, it was time for her surprise: her very own karaoke machine and a pink, Taylor Swift–inspired guitar! Perfect for this outgoing, natural performer!
Savannah’s face lit up the moment she saw her gifts! And the second the call ended, she transformed her living room into a full-on concert arena! Look out, Taylor! Savannah is on her way up!
Thank you, Haylee, for helping Savannah continue to shine brightly! You both ROCK!!!
Your generosity makes all this possible, and the success of our Annual Matching Challenge will directly impact how many kids with cancer Team Summer can help in 2026!
On behalf of my beautiful daughter, Summer, whose vision, compassion, and empathy started all this, thank you in advance for helping to fund this very important mission!
Much love,
Lynne Dale
President
Team Summer
*This is the remarkable group of Team Summer supporters whose generosity created our Challenge Fund. I am grateful beyond words!
Gold Level Donors
Cathi and Chad Morriss
Individual Donors
Jennifer Barnes
Holly and George Batchelor
Elizabeth and Frank Blake
Tracy Carusi
Jan and Avery DeLong
Melissa Demetrops
Robert and Janet Dobson
Linton and Priscilla Hopkins
Scott Levere
Liza and Derrick McSwain
Jeri Moran and Shaun Rawls
Nancy Neufer
Jeff and Betsy Sherry
Corporate Donors
HawkPartners
Specialty Center for Periodontics and Dental Implants
*Team Summer, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
