One visitor was Maggie, who lives with FOXP1 syndrome. She and her father told us about FOXP1 Impact and their efforts to raise awareness and build a supportive community for families affected by the condition. We came to the stand prepared to share why pancreatic cancer matters to our family. We left having learned about another family working to make a rare disease better understood.
We also met a five-year-old cancer survivor. She shared a book about cancer with our children and spent time with Juan, whose diagnosis inspired the first Little Cups Big Hearts stand. Meeting her lifted his spirits. For our children, it was a chance to connect with someone who understood parts of their world in a way few people can.
Manuela even brought lemonade to visitors who wanted to stay in their cars. For a day, our family stand had its own little drive-up service.
These visits stayed with us. A stand may begin with cups, a table, and a reason to show up, but its impact is also in the people who stop and the stories they choose to share. We are grateful to both families for spending part of their day with ours.
Little Cups Big Hearts began with one child wanting to help her dad. Every stand reminds us that children and families can make room for one another, raise awareness, and help more people understand why research matters.