Cade Filer Endowed Fund for Child Life
Our commitment to the community is personal.
Our journey began at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, where our son, Cade, battled medulloblastoma with a bravery that continues to inspire us today. During Cade’s treatment —including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and a month in the stem cell transplant unit — the hospital’s Child Life Department was our anchor. Its mission is to provide safety and normalcy, and make children who are facing the unthinkable feel special.
Cade lost his battle shortly before his fourth birthday, but his spirit lives on through the Cade Filer Endowed Fund for Child Life in Hematology and Oncology.
For 10 years, our community has held an annual birthday party to celebrate childhood and raise funds for the Child Life Department. By 2025, the endowment had grown to over $125,000 thanks to the support of local businesses and schools.
Why we’re creating the Everything Hurts Run Club.
Now, we’re ready to evolve our efforts and start a new chapter with the Everything Hurts Run Club. Why “Everything Hurts”? Distance running and ultramarathons are grueling. They require us to endure discomfort and push past our limits. We run because we can — and we do hard things in honor of the kids at Children’s Mercy who do hard things every day.
We’re holding our inaugural event in 2026. Whether you are a seasoned ultra-competitor or a local distance runner, we invite you to join us in growing the Cade Filer Endowed Fund and supporting the incredible Child Life team at Children’s Mercy.
Want to learn more? Reach out today to add your name to our email list.