Sydney Fecht's Donation Page for the UW Neuro-Oncology Golf Tournament

Cancer is a deeply personal journey, and for our family, it became real the day our daughter, Syd, was diagnosed with brain cancer at just 20 years old. Nothing prepares you for that moment. Nothing prepares you for the surgeries, the radiation, the chemotherapy, or what comes next. But from the very beginning, we were carried — by God, by prayer, and by the people He placed around us.

We were led to UW–Madison’s Carbone Cancer Center, nationally recognized for their cutting‑edge technology and groundbreaking research. We were surrounded by some of the most gifted physicians in the country: Dr. Ahmed, Dr. Howard, Dr. Bhatia, and their incredible teams. They are extraordinary humans — compassionate, brilliant, and unwavering in their mission. They used their God‑given gifts to guide Syd through two brain surgeries (one awake), 18 full-brain radiation treatments (this is not a standard of care/protocol), and a full year of chemotherapy.

No part of the journey was easy, but we were never alone. There were prayers said over hospital beds, songs that became anchors on the hardest days, encouraging words from people who showed up at just the right moment, and a peace that didn’t make sense except that it came from God. Our story could have been so different. We know that and there isn’t a single day when we take that for granted.  We are profoundly grateful for the grace that carried us, the hands that healed.

Believing in Breakthrough

The researchers at UW–Madison are working tirelessly to discover the breakthrough that will finally tame this disease. We believe they are close and the answer could be discovered right here, in our own backyard. We believe God is working through these brilliant minds to bring healing to families like ours. There are currently a couple promising studies in progress — including research on vaccine‑based therapies that could slow or even fight brain cancer. This work is bold, innovative, and full of hope. But they need our help to keep going.

The Power of One Dollar

Imagine if one million people gave just $1. One dollar — something almost anyone can spare. One dollar — multiplied by a million hearts. One dollar — passed along from person to person until it becomes something far greater than what any one of us could give alone. Give whatever feels right for you, and if all you can give is $1, know that even that single dollar can grow into something extraordinary when it’s shared forward.