It was cold, emotional, and full of life – the kind of day that stays with you.
The morning began along Wildwood Park’s wooded roads and walking paths. Adults and children made their way toward the beach, some running, others walking, and parents pushing little ones in strollers.
Throughout the park, black #ColeStrong and #BrianaBrave shirts and sweatshirts stood out against the muted colors of winter. Near the Field 1 Beach Area sign, The Strong and Brave Foundation’s sign served as a small but powerful reminder of why everyone had gathered: to help end childhood cancer and make sure affected families never feel as though they are facing it alone.
Cole and Briana were at the heart of the day.
Cole Alexander Slaiding was carried with us in every #ColeStrong shirt worn along the route. His life, courage, and memory continue to push us to demand greater awareness and better outcomes for children with cancer.
Briana Harper Dolomite was there in her black #BrianaBrave sweatshirt, bright purple pants, and sunglasses, surrounded by family, friends, and supporters who loved her. She posed for photographs, spent time with the children, and shared a tender hug with the event’s white bear mascot.
Looking back, those moments hold more weight than we could have understood at the time. They capture Briana as she truly was – brave, deeply loved, and right at the center of the community she helped inspire.
Together, their stories became the heart and purpose of The Strong and Brave Foundation.
After the run and walk, participants headed down to the beach for the plunge.
There is nothing polished about stepping toward open water in February. The rocks are cold under bare feet, the wind finds every bit of exposed skin, and your body tells you to turn around. Still, participants went in.
They emerged soaked, breathless, and smiling, quickly reaching for towels while friends and family cheered from the shoreline.
No brief plunge can compare with what a child or family endures during a cancer diagnosis. That was never the point. The plunge was a choice to face something difficult together and turn that moment into greater awareness, community support, and action.
Some of the most meaningful moments happened away from the water. Children gathered in their #ColeStrong clothing. Families stopped along the route to talk and reconnect. Briana posed with supporters wearing #BrianaBrave across their shirts. The white bear mascot brought hugs, smiles, and a little lightness to a day grounded in a serious mission.
That mix of emotion is familiar to childhood cancer families. Fear and laughter can exist in the same room. Exhaustion and hope often travel together. Even during the hardest seasons, children still want to laugh, play, see their friends, and feel like themselves.
Our responsibility is to stand beside them through all of it.
The 2024 Run and Plunge was more than a winter gathering. It showed what happens when a community refuses to look away from childhood cancer.
Every person who ran, walked, plunged, volunteered, cheered, or wore Cole’s and Briana’s names helped carry the mission forward. They raised awareness. They made families feel seen. They reminded us that real change begins when people are willing to show up – even on a cold February morning.
To everyone who joined us at Wildwood Park: thank you. Your presence mattered then, and it still matters today.
