Six years after being diagnosed with leukemia, 11-year-old Graham Schroth became the face of CancerFree KIDS’ largest 100 Mile Challenge fundraiser yet.
Diagnosed with leukemia in 2020, Graham Schroth underwent treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Today, he’s healthy, and this September, his story was front and center as the featured champion of the 100 Mile Challenge, a monthlong fundraiser supporting pediatric cancer research.
The campaign raised more than $1 million this year, its highest total since launching five years ago. Northern Kentucky played a significant role in that success, with more than 1,100 participants and over $335,000 raised by locally headquartered corporate teams alone.
“It was just really humbling for us as a family for him to be considered, and just for CancerFree KIDS to feel like our family and him specifically was worthy of being highlighted,” said Graham’s father, Michael Schroth.
His face appeared on digital billboards throughout the region, and his story was shared with thousands of participants who signed up to walk, run, bike and move for the cause.
The recognition also gave the family another opportunity to advocate for children who are still undergoing cancer treatment.
“Graham’s doing great,” Michael Schroth said. “He’s healthy, but not every kid that goes through something similar to Graham is actually going to end up getting through it.”
The Crescent Springs family’s involvement with CancerFree KIDS began during Graham Schroth’s treatment. In 2021, on the first anniversary of his diagnosis, he came up with the idea to organize a bike parade to raise money for childhood cancer research. The family has continued hosting Graham’s Bike Parade each year, donating the proceeds to CancerFree KIDS and helping support other children facing cancer.
Now in its fifth year, the 100 Mile Challenge encourages participants to complete 100 miles of physical activity throughout September while raising at least $100 for pediatric cancer research. CancerFree KIDS Executive Director Jill Brinck said the campaign has become one of the nonprofit’s fastest-growing fundraising initiatives.
The fundraiser brought in more than $1 million this year, compared to just under $700,000 in 2025 and approximately $150,000 during its inaugural year in 2022. The money raised supports research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
Participation also grew substantially, from approximately 2,700 people last year to about 4,100 this year.
According to Brinck, more than $335,000 was raised through Northern Kentucky-based corporate teams, accounting for roughly one-third of the campaign’s total fundraising. Another 122 Northern Kentucky community participants raised more than $25,000. The Schroth’s team raised over $10,000.
Beyond raising money, the campaign aims to bring attention to the need for more pediatric cancer research.
Brinck said childhood cancer research faces significant funding challenges because relatively few children are diagnosed compared with adults, making it less financially attractive for pharmaceutical companies to invest in developing treatments. She said pediatric cancer research receives only a small share of federal cancer research funding, leaving organizations like CancerFree KIDS to help researchers pursue ideas that might otherwise go unfunded.
“What’s required at the federal level to get those dollars is a lot of proof of concept data,” Brinck said. “They don’t like high risk. They want to fund things that work, but yet there’s no funding to do the work to get that proof of concept data.”
She said the investments from CancerFree KIDS are intended to help researchers generate the preliminary evidence needed to compete for larger grants and eventually develop more effective treatments.
The Schroths continue to be involved with CancerFree KIDS even after Graham Schroth completed treatment. Michael Schroth said he often reminds himself and others that being able to participate is a privilege.
“Do this for people that can’t do it,” he said.
