Richmond Family Organizes Padel Tournament for Cancer Trial
Charlotte Wilson, a four-year-old from Richmond, Virginia, is marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by sharing her journey following a diagnosis of stage four high-risk neuroblastoma. Diagnosed in September of last year when she was three years old, Charlotte endured a year of aggressive treatments, including surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, scans, and blood transfusions, after experiencing persistent fatigue and illness.
- Charlotte Wilson was diagnosed with stage four high-risk neuroblastoma in September at three years old, facing an aggressive form of pediatric cancer known for a high rate of recurrence.
- Her year of treatment at both the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City included surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and blood transfusions.
- To reduce the likelihood of recurrence, Charlotte is participating in a vaccine clinical trial, prompting her family to organize a community padel tournament to support the research.
The Diagnosis and Treatment Journey at Children’s Hospital of Richmond and Memorial Sloan Kettering
Before her diagnosis, Charlotte was a healthy three-year-old until symptoms of fatigue and illness prompted medical evaluation, leading to the identification of stage four high-risk neuroblastoma. High-risk neuroblastoma is a rare and aggressive pediatric malignancy that frequently requires multimodal therapeutic interventions. Her mother, Caley, described the sudden onset of the medical crisis, noting that such life-altering diagnoses often feel distant until they impact an immediate family member.
Over the past year, Charlotte’s clinical management spanned multiple specialized pediatric oncology centers. She received care at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and traveled to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City to undergo a comprehensive regimen of surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and blood transfusions.
Enrollment in a Pediatric Neuroblastoma Vaccine Trial
Charlotte is currently enrolled in a vaccine trial designed to lower the risk of cancer recurrence. Her family noted that this vaccine research was largely made possible through philanthropic fundraising efforts driven by families and communities affected by pediatric cancer.
To support ongoing clinical trials and raise awareness for pediatric oncology research, the Wilson family is hosting a community padel tournament on Friday, October 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. at the Padel Plant in Shockoe Bottom.