Mary Beth Campbell

I’m riding to raise $10,000 for Bloom syndrome research, and for my son, Calvin.

Calvin was diagnosed with Bloom syndrome at just 20 months old. Since then, we’ve been navigating a world full of medical appointments, unanswered questions, and tough decisions. He now undergoes quarterly abdominal ultrasounds to watch for early signs of cancer, and later this year - at only 11 years old - he’ll have his first colonoscopy. That’s life with Bloom syndrome: proactive, persistent, and always a bit unpredictable.

This fall, Calvin will start middle school. I’m so proud of how far he’s come - but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. At just over 4 feet tall, Calvin is significantly smaller than his peers. I worry about how he’ll be treated by kids who might not understand what makes him different. But I also know that Calvin’s spark, wit, and sense of humor can light up any room. He loves comedy movies, cracks jokes with perfect timing, and can school just about anyone on 90s hip hop.

As Calvin’s parents, Wes and I wanted to do more than just wait for answers. I now serve as a volunteer research executive with the Bloom Syndrome Association, where I work alongside an incredible global community of researchers, clinicians, patients, and families. Together, we’re defining and driving the research goals that matter most - like better understanding how cancer develops in Bloom syndrome and finding safer, more effective treatments for kids like Calvin.

Funds raised through this ride will help us launch a virtual tumor board to connect oncologists across institutions around the world and support studies on how individuals with Bloom syndrome respond to cancer therapies, so that care can be more personalized and proactive. Thanks to an anonymous donor's matching program, your donation could go twice as far.

Please ride with us, in person or in spirit! Donate if you can. And help us keep Calvin’s future bright.