From Jaclyn to Hudson and Ben, A Mission of Hope Rolls Into Springfield

Denis Murphy (Jaclyn’s dad)

When Denis Murphy talks about the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, he doesn't begin with statistics or fundraising goals.

He starts with his daughter.

More than two decades ago, Murphy's 9-year-old daughter, Jaclyn, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. What followed was a whirlwind that many parents hope they never experience. There were rushed trips to specialists, an eight-hour surgery, radiation treatments and chemotherapy.

Doctors gave Jaclyn only a 30 percent chance of survival.

Today, at 31 years old, she is thriving. But Murphy says the foundation that now helps children across the country was born during one of the darkest chapters of his family's life.

Jaclyn was receiving treatment on the pediatric cancer floor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York when she became friends with another young patient. By then, members of the Northwestern University women's lacrosse team had surrounded Jaclyn with encouragement after learning about her diagnosis. They regularly called, sent messages, and treated her like one of their own.

Watching those friendships grow, another little girl asked who kept calling.

"Those are my friends that play lacrosse," Jaclyn told her.

After the girl was called away for chemotherapy, Jaclyn looked at her father and said something he has never forgotten.

"Dad, you've got to get her a team."

Murphy said those few words changed everything.

That moment led to the creation of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers.

"Our mission is to improve the quality of life for these children," Murphy said. "I'm about today. Research is important, but I'm about today."

The foundation pairs children with high school, college and professional sports teams, creating friendships that often last for years. Murphy stresses the relationships are not temporary.

"They're not adopted for one game or one season," he said. "They're adopted for as long as they're alive."

Since the organization was founded 22 years ago, more than 1,300 children have been matched with athletic teams across the country. The foundation has also expanded beyond sports, partnering with arts and music organizations for children whose interests may lie elsewhere.

Murphy says he never imagined how much the organization would grow. Along the way, he realized siblings of children with cancer were often overlooked as families focused on treatment. That led to the creation of the foundation's "Safe on the Sideline" program, which supports brothers and sisters during a difficult time.

Another effort, known as the Angel Program, reaches out to families whose children have entered hospice care. Volunteers simply send messages of encouragement and prayers, reminding parents they are not facing their journey alone.

Over the years, Murphy has attended hundreds of hospital visits and far too many funerals.

"Brain tumors are the number one cause of death from cancer in children," he said quietly. "We've lost 312 children."

Those experiences have shaped the foundation's focus.

For Murphy, improving a child's day today matters just as much as the hope for tomorrow.

That mission will be highlighted when the nationally televised Great American Road Rally stops in Springfield on Aug. 7. The Route 66 television series selected the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation as one of its featured charitable partners, giving the organization an opportunity to share its work with viewers across the country.

Murphy said the Springfield event is about much more than television cameras or celebrity appearances. It is about introducing people to children like Hudson Gray of Marshfield and Ben, another southwest Missouri child, whose stories represent thousands of families living with childhood cancer.

He believes every community has the ability to make a difference.

"When somebody shares these stories," Murphy said, "you change lives. There are other children out there who will hear about this and realize they're not alone."

Adisyn Gray (Hudson’s mom)

One of the children who will be recognized during the Springfield stop is Hudson Gray of Marshfield.

His mother, Adisyn Gray, said Hudson's story represents exactly why the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation was chosen as one of the featured charities during the Great American Road Rally.

The nationally televised Route 66 series will stop in Springfield on Friday, Aug. 7, as celebrity teams travel from Chicago to Santa Monica while filming the new television series. Along the way, the production is highlighting charitable organizations that are making a difference in communities across the country.

For the Springfield stop, the spotlight will shine on two local childhood cancer families — Hudson and another young boy named Ben.

Gray said having the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation included in the project means far more than appearing on television.

"They focus on quality of life right now," she said. "They ask, 'What can we do to help this child today? How can we make their life better today?'"

She said one of the foundation's most meaningful programs pairs children battling cancer with sports teams, organizations or community groups that become an extended family, offering encouragement long after treatment begins.

"It's really giving these kids more people in their corner," Gray said.

Springfield was selected as one of the featured stops because of its connection to Route 66 as the birthplace of the historic highway. While the city will provide the backdrop for the event, Gray said the true focus will be on the children and their families.

Gray hopes people from Marshfield, Springfield and surrounding communities will attend to welcome the production and, more importantly, show support for the two boys.

"We want to give them a good hometown welcome," she said. "We really want to support our boys."

She said updates leading up to the event, including opportunities for the public to attend, will continue to be shared on the Heroes for Hudson Facebook page.

For Gray, the event is another opportunity to raise awareness about childhood cancer while reminding other families that they are not alone in their journey.

Taylor Waller (Benjamin’s mom)

Like Hudson Gray, young Ben has spent much of his life fighting a battle most children never face.

His mother, Taylor Waller, said Ben was born in 2022. Everything seemed normal until his nine-month well-child visit, when doctors noticed his head circumference was larger than expected. An ultrasound was ordered, and the family soon received life-changing news.

Doctors discovered a brain tumor.

"There were no other signs," Waller said. "We had no idea there was something growing in his head."

Ben immediately began treatment in Kansas City, where he underwent three rounds of introductory chemotherapy followed by three rounds of high-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplants. The intensive treatment was designed to destroy the cancer while allowing healthy bone marrow cells to rebuild his immune system.

The family later traveled to St. Jude in Memphis, where neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Klimo performed a 10-hour surgery to remove part of the tumor.

A second surgery had been planned just weeks later, but doctors discovered Ben had suffered two strokes during his recovery. Those plans changed, and the family instead moved forward with 30 rounds of radiation.

Since the summer of 2024, Ben has returned every few months for MRI scans to monitor the remaining tumor.

"So far, he's remained stable," Waller said. "We just had a scan two weeks ago, and getting stable scans is always really good news."

Today, Ben is preparing to begin his second year of preschool. He spends his days playing in the backyard with his older sister and two younger brothers while continuing therapies to help with his recovery.

"There was quite a bit of time when we weren't sure we'd even make it this far," Waller said.

The family's involvement with the Great American Road Rally happened unexpectedly.

Waller said she responded to a message in a St. Jude childhood cancer support group, believing she was simply volunteering to help another family. Instead, she was invited to participate in the nationally televised Route 66 event alongside the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.

Although the family has generally kept their journey private, Waller said they felt it was the right time to share Ben's story.

"We're doing well," she said. "It's time to use what we've gone through to help give back and help other people if we can."

She said one of the things that impressed her most about the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is that its leaders understand childhood cancer because they have lived it themselves.

"They've been in our shoes," Waller said. "They know the specific struggles of childhood cancer."

Throughout Ben's treatment, the family has experienced countless acts of kindness. Friends delivered groceries after long hospital stays. Others offered to clean the family's home while Ben's immune system was too weak to fight germs.

Those simple acts, Waller said, became unforgettable gifts.

"It's really hard to ask for help, and it's really hard to receive it," she said. "But we've been blessed with so much compassion."

Now, she hopes sharing Ben's story will encourage others to support families facing similar battles.

The Great American Road Rally and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation are providing another opportunity to do just that, reminding families that no one has to face childhood cancer alone.