Pro Surf Competition And Fundraiser To Support Kira Stanley, North County Teen With Inoperable Brain Tumor
Kira Stanley is in many ways just like most 17 year old girls you’ll find living in North County.
A former student at La Costa Canyon High School and surf instructor at Concept Surf Shop in Encinitas, Kira was until recently full of energy and spirit, focused on her friends and surfing, and looking forward to new adventures after high school.
Kira Stanley (center) with sister and friend
News Nobody Wants
What’s different from most, however, is that Kira was suddenly diagnosed with having a very aggressive, inoperable brain tumor in November of 2017.
Only a few weeks away from her driver’s test, and super excited because she worked all summer to save enough money to buy her own car, Kira unfortunately had to hit pause on those plans.
In a very short 5-week period she went from a normal and healthy teenager, to a kid fighting an incredibly difficult fight. What started as mild double vision, escalated quickly to intense headaches, then dizziness. Several trips to various doctors and numerous tests eventually revealed a parent’s worst nightmare, a rare and aggressive form of cancerous tumor attached to Kira’s brain stem.
Optimism and Contribution
Despite learning of her condition, Kira remains very optimistic and happy. Amazingly, she’s already focused on contributing to others facing similar circumstances by creating the ‘Brain Tumor Hall Pass‘ movement.
A ‘Brain Tumor Hall Pass’ (hashtag #bthp), is the phrase Kira and her family started using when things get overwhelming for Kira and she wants to politely tell everyone she needs a break. Her tumor makes her particularly sensitive to light and sound, so being around friends and family can unfortunately become uncomfortable quite quickly.
Kira wants the ‘Brain Tumor Hall Pass’ to be a tool anyone with a brain tumor can use to ‘get a break’ when they need one.
Treatment Options
The conventional treatments available for Kira’s tumor don’t offer a lot of promise. After exhaustive research, Kira and her family decided on a treatment offered in Mexico that has shown the most promise by far.
But, of course, that treatment isn’t covered by her family’s health insurance and cost $25-35,000 per treatment.
Community Support When Kira Needed It Most
Upon hearing the news, the San Diego community, the professional surfing community, and friends, family and generous spirits from all over the world stepped up to support Kira and her family, contributing enough to Kira’s GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of her treatment for the year – an amazing blessing for Kira and her family.
The first Help Kira Fight Surf Competition at Moonlight Beach and fundraising party were both an incredible success and beautiful memories for Kira and her family.
The Fight Doesn’t End For Kira…But The Funds Have
Although Kira has responded well to treatments over the last year, she is still a 17 year old with an inoperable brain tumor, and still requires regular treatments and surgeries.
Her fight continues, but the funds from the original fundraising efforts have been depleted.
How You Can Help: The 2nd Annual Help Kira Fight Surf Competition, Party and Fundraising Drive
The 2nd Annual Help Kira Fight Surf Competition, Party and Fundraising Drive are officially under way!
The surf competition and party are scheduled April 20th, and all members of the community are encouraged to attend.
Details can be found on Kira’s website.
Fundraising Raffle Includes One-in-a-Lifetime Trips as Prizes!
An online raffle has been launched to raise funds for Kira and is open to everyone to participate. Prizes include an all-expenses paid trip to Costa Rica, a signed surfboard and trip to the ‘Surf Ranch’ of surfing legend Kelly Slater, a 3-day rental at a rustic cabin in Sedona, a weeklong rental in Jackson Hole, WY…and much more!
A GoFundMe campaign is also active to support the movement and raise funds for Kira’s treatment (it’s the same campaign from last year, so please don’t be confused by the large numbers you see – Kira’s family needs to raise funds desperately to continue treatments. At $25-35,000 per treatment, last year’s funds raised are almost entirely depleted at this point).
Kira’s mom Wendy in her #bthp gear
Keep In Touch With Kira!
The relationships Kira has formed through this experience have been the one bright spot in this situation, and she loves to keep in touch with as many people as possible on social media.
You can keep up with her latest progress on her Facebook page, and follow her personally on Instagram.
If you pick up some #bthp gear, be sure to share some pics on social and use the hashtags #cancersucks #kickcancersass #bthp so Kira will se it – it will mean the world to her and her family!
