The Strong and Brave Foundation is inspired by two young children with cancer. One of them being the Slaiding family’s four-year-old son, Cole Alexander Slaiding, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer on December 14, 2022, losing his life just 6 short weeks later January 30, 2023.

The whirlwind diagnosis and journey Cole and our close-knit family went through was one that no family should ever have to experience. Our small local community rallied to support our family in so many ways. From daily hot meals being delivered, to gifts and goodies, providing financial and emotional support, our community stood by us at time when nothing made sense. The immense outpouring of love and support was nothing short of amazing. We found the support offered by those close and afar, a source of comfort in an otherwise scary and tumultuous time.

Cole lived a life filled with love, fun and activities. He ran through life never a stone’s throw away from his mother, finding the best in each day. He was often found smelling the beautiful flowers in his mother’s garden, a powerful and symbolic gesture. “Stop and smell the flowers” is an idiom, we have all heard, a phrase representative of slowing down in life and really being a part of it, in the present moment. With that sentiment in mind, taking one moment, one step at a time, is what got us through to the other side of Cole’s journey and today, we hope through The Strong and Brave Foundation, we can provide a source of comfort and peace to other families that find themselves in front of a childhood cancer diagnosis. The Strong and Brave Foundation to provide families going through similar experiences as our own with the type of support we were given to ease the burden a childhood cancer diagnosis creates. Whatever it is our families require, we will do our best to provide.

Imagine your child was here one year and gone the next, all before their 10th birthday.On June 29, 2024, Briana earned her angel wings after a valiant 11-month battle with diffuse midline glioma (DMG), H3K27M-mutant, at just nine (9) years old. She was surrounded by her family and unconditional love.Briana never lost the sparkle that made her so unique and so loved.Briana was diagnosed with DMG in the summer of 2023 at the young age of eight (8) and subsequently experienced more medical intervention than some people experience in their lifetime. Facing difficult times with an amazing amount of courage is a testament to her incredible spirit; she rang every bell, raced through hospital wings with doctors, and proudly held signs celebrating each victorious battle she won.Experiencing symptoms, chemotherapy, radiation, clinical trials, travels to treatment, and physical decline, she remained resilient and joyful. Briana's personality was a beautiful compilation of compassion, cleverness, a bright sense of humor, and kindness. Up until her very last breath, Briana exuded love and found it a joy to be in the world. Following her lead, we plan to exude love, finding joy in the crevices of our new day-to-day, and advocate for childhood cancer research in her honor.