Made to move mountains

Life was normal for soon-to-be high school senior Riley McFadden. An active student leader, Riley was a competitive swimmer with dreams of competing at the collegiate level. She was healthy and thriving.

That all changed during her senior year when she was diagnosed with Stage 2B Bulky Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of cancer that occurs when white blood cells mutate and multiply abnormally in the lymphatic system.

Riley’s primary care physician wasted no time transferring her to the specialists at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital where he knew she would get the personalized care she required.

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals ambassador Riley McFadden stands under the bell with her care team, signifying her beating cancer

“My life was flipped in an instant,” Riley said. “The minute I heard I was transferring to the doctors in Gainesville, I knew I was going to be taken care of and was going to receive the best care possible to treat my cancer.”

While at the children’s, Riley had the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial aimed at treating Hodgkin’s Lymphoma patients. From October 2023 to April 2024, she received outpatient chemotherapy infusions every other week. In addition, she underwent multiple inpatient treatments and surgeries.

“It was hard some days, and I couldn’t get out of bed. But the one thing I kept telling myself was that it was helping me, and more importantly, it would help someone else too,” she said.

But Riley’s first experience with UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital didn’t come after her diagnosis. It began years earlier when she participated in Dance Marathon at Leon High School as a freshman. As a student-led philanthropy organization, Dance Marathon raises funds to support UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. After her connection to UF Health became personal, the organization provided an essential positive outlet during her treatment.

A girl stands on stage with a microphone at a Dance Marathon event at Florida State University

“Without funds raised by Dance Marathon, UF Health Shands may not have had the clinical trial I was placed in. And because of my diagnosis, I found my second family,” Riley said. “I had an outlet of support for the entirety of my journey, and I couldn’t love the people in my life more if I tried.

During her treatment, Riley struggled to stay hopeful, but her family, friends and Dance Marathon community helped her to find her light. While cancer wasn’t in the plans, she is thankful to be able to share her story and hopes to continue inspiring others throughout her collegiate career.

“I may never know exactly how or why all of this happened, but I do believe it had a purpose. One of my friends told me I was made to move mountains and change lives, and I believe after all that has happened, I have. I took my greatest challenge and made it into my greatest source of strength and inspiration,” she said.

“To be a part of something greater than myself, and to pave the way for a much better tomorrow for kids like me, has given an incredible purpose to my life.”