Childhood Cancer
Over the past 4 years, Tour Da Yoop, Eh’s partnership with U.P. Lions Serve has raised over $300,000 for families that are battling childhood cancer in the Upper Peninsula. Our goal in 2025 is to raise $150,000.
Sign up. Pledge. Bike.
You can raise money through Tour Da Yoop, Eh. Every rider who signs up for the annual event receives a unique donation pledge page to help raise money for families in the UP who are battling childhood cancer. Riders can then go and start their own fundraising events, whether it be a pledge drive or an advertising campaign!
We raised over $300,000 in pledges since 2020. You can find the 2025 moving fundraising total here.
Riders aren’t the only people who can raise money—anyone can! Send us if you are interested in starting your own pledge page. Sign up on PledgeReg to start fundraising!
If you plan on donating via check please make the check out to “UPLS Childhood Cancer” and mail it to UPLS Childhood Cancer, PO Box 107, Engadine MI 49827.
THE CAUSE
Our mission Our mission is to serve children and families from the Upper Peninsula who are battling childhood cancer. We believe that when a child is sick, the entire family is affected. Our support focuses on the individual along with the entire family.
The Childhood Cancer program provides grants to families to minimize the financial hardship that is directly attributable to their child’s diagnosis, to cover needs for travel, medical and household bills.
We rely solely on donations from private benefactors, sponsors, lions clubs and other community organizations, foundations and fundraisers. Every dollar earned goes directly to the families and to the programs that serve them.
Our program assembles initiatives to help these families meet financial needs for travel, medical, and household bills.
We provide these families with other resources for getting care.
PURPOSE
Travel Costs: To receive care, our families must travel long distances. Our grants assist with travel costs, such as gas, food, and accommodations. Lions Clubs from around the U.P. provide toys, cards, hats, quilts, pillowcases, love, and more to let our families know they aren't alone.
Household Bills: Fighting cancer is expensive. Our grants help with bills, such as rent, utilities, groceries, and other housing related fees.
Medical Bills: Our grants help with medical bills, such as co-pays, deductibles, and other expenses that are not covered by insurance. In addition, we share information and connect families to other nonprofits that may help them, either in person or remotely, such as:
Programs We Support:
Northwoods AirLifeLine, a non profit organization of volunteer pilots from Michihgan’s Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin who donate their time and aircraft to airlift U.P. children and adults to various hospitals throughout the region for medical appointments and care.
Kids Kicking Cancer, an organization that teaches children with cancer the tools to manage pain and maintain strength through martial arts and meditation. Kids Kicking Cancer also teaches kids to be victors and not victims. Virtual classes are now available to children in the Upper Peninsula.
Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan. Children receive hair and skin restoration after hair loss at no cost to the families. This organization supports all children living in Michigan and Maggie's has helped several children from the Upper Peninsula.
THE STORIES
Meet “ Warrior” Madeline
On February 24, 2024 our Happy little girl Madeline was diagnosed with b-cell ALL cancer. We are now on our 2nd cycle of chemotherapy here at C.S Mott Children's hospital in Ann Arbor. This cycle is 56 days here on the 7th floor of the hospital. She is on over 40 medications and has gotten mucositis, thrush, a seizure and what they are calling a mini stroke thus far in this 56 day cycle. Even with all of these side effects, she is generally happy and smiling. She is a beautiful warrior and her inner strength amazes everyone she comes in contact with. She is extraordinary and unbroken by this and we could not be prouder or more in awe by her daily attitude toward life.
We live in Ishpeming and she hasn't been back home since February, and that is really hard as she is very close with her 2 little sisters and she surely misses her best friend Jack Frost (our cat). One of her favorite places to be is at school with her friends and teachers at Lakeview elementary in Negaunee. So that is pretty tough on her emotionally, but she strives on with zeal everyday. She is just an Awesome little girl and she thanks you for spreading the word on her unbroken spirit in the face of uncertainty.
Meet “Warrior” Jackson
Jackson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on July 11, 2024 at the age of 11. He is currently undergoing treatment at C.S. Mott's Childrens' Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Treatments include weekly visits to U of M for the first year then transitioning to maintenance chemotherapy and continued visits until October of 2026.
Jackson is an active student and athlete, playing school and AAU basketball and flag football before being diagnosed. Although this year, he was unable to play sports and attend school in person for the majority of the year, he earned straight As to earn a spot on the school's local chapter of the Junior National Honors Society. He truly is #JacksonStrong with his mind, body, and spirit as he fights this disease and pushes to live a normal life for a 12 year old boy! Thank you for your support of Jackson and our family!
Meet “Warrior” Senya
Since the last Tour Da Yoop, Eh!, Senya finished her leukemia treatment, ringing the bell on December 16, 2024. With strength and a bright spirit, she wrapped up 5th grade smiling—and she’s now cancer-free and loving life!
Hometown: Marquette, MI
Favorite Things: basketball, theater, track, soccer
Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Diagnosis Date: October 9, 2022
Completed Treatment: December 16, 2024
Location of Treatment: C.S Mott Children’s Hospital Ann Arbor, MI
THE IMPACT
See our collection of videos and write-ups spotlighting our mission to support local families battling childhood cancer.
TOGETHER WE CAN
To view the most recent UPLS Childhood Cancer newsletter please click the button below.
If you want to learn more about the Upper Peninsula Lions’ Childhood Cancer program, visit their website.
Have a question?
Send us a message and we’ll get in touch.