The Gold Ribbon: A tribute to Amarah and the fight against childhood cancer  

Shirley Stirling

You’ve likely seen the pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness, or perhaps the purple ribbon representing general cancer awareness.

But did you know there are more than 50 different awareness ribbons for various types of cancer and related causes? Among them, the gold ribbon is the international symbol for childhood and adolescent cancer awareness.  

This year, for the first time, the Relay for Life of Thurston County — held at North Thurston High School — included a Gold Together Team. The relay took place on June 21, but fundraising efforts continue until midnight on Aug. 3. At the time of this writing, the event had surpassed its goal of $500,000, raising more than $531,000 to support cancer research and patient services.  

I’m dedicating this column to the memory of Amarah, a local girl who lost her life to clear cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive pediatric cancer. If she were alive today, she would undoubtedly be a passionate supporter of this new gold ribbon effort in Thurston County.  

Amarah’s cancer journey began with what seemed like a simple pain in her leg. Her mother, Rachael Kendall, took her to the doctor, but the initial concerns were dismissed.

Rachael persisted, seeking answers from multiple medical professionals. Eventually, Amarah was diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma, a rare and chemo-resistant form of cancer. By the time the diagnosis was confirmed and treatment options became available, critical time had been lost.  

Tragically, 1 in 5 cases of childhood cancer have no effective treatment options.  Because standard chemotherapy was unlikely to help, Amarah underwent surgery and radiation. The path was difficult, and not just medically.

With a full head of hair, she didn’t “look sick,” and some of her peers didn’t believe she had cancer. Still, she faced it all with remarkable resilience and grace. She started a Facebook page, "Amarah’s Journey," where she raised awareness and shared her story. Her honesty and strength drew more than 2,000 followers, inspired by her optimism and compassion for others.  

Her mother, relentless in her search for options, eventually found an experimental treatment being used in Japan. After several rejections, Amarah was accepted to receive the therapy, which involved CPI-613, combined with hydroxychloroquine — a regimen that aims to target cancer cells without harming healthy ones. Sadly, the treatment came too late. Administered as compassionate care, it was a last attempt to slow the disease.  

Amarah passed away on May 7, 2019, just shy of her 13th birthday.  

Sadly, her story is not unique. Many families face the same delays, the same roadblocks, and the same heartbreak.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death for children and teens ages 1–19 in the United States. And even in 2025, 20 percent of children diagnosed with cancer have no access to effective treatment.

Some treatment centers simply cannot accommodate children. Others focus solely on patients enrolled in research trials. Excellent institutions like St. Jude and Seattle Children’s do lifesaving work, but they can’t reach every child in time.  

Rachael Kendall, Regional Director of Operations at Fieldstone of Olympia, continues her daughter’s mission to raise awareness. Fieldstone is the sponsor of the Relay’s new Gold Together Team. I attended one of the facility’s Friday fundraising luncheons, part of what organizers hope will become a year-round effort to raise both awareness and resources.  

This year’s Gold Together Team's presence at Relay for Life is only the beginning. Plans are already in motion to expand outreach and fundraising for pediatric cancer efforts in 2026 and beyond.  

Amarah’s story reminds us why this work matters. As she once said, “Fight like a kid.”  

This gold ribbon shines for Amarah — for every child still fighting, and every family still hoping.  

Donations may be made to:  GoldTogether Team A Fieldstone  Donations directly support research, advocacy, and patient support dedicated to childhood cancer.