Cancer can strike at any time. That’s something the Darnells of Du Quoin, Illinois, understand all too well. In December 2020, just days before Christmas, high school junior Addi woke up with a sore neck. After a day spent celebrating with family, the Darnells were shocked to discover that Addi had developed a large mass on her collarbone. They rushed her to the emergency room, and after receiving a CAT scan, she was taken in a mobile ICU to St. Louis Children’s Hospital in the early hours of the morning. The next day, she was diagnosed with advanced stage 3a bulky Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“Being admitted to the hospital is one of the scariest times of your life, but everyone at St. Louis Children’s treated me like a normal kid,” Addi says. “They made sure I understood everything and cared about my feelings.” The team at St. Louis Children’s Hospital was able to quickly get Addi enrolled in a clinical trial. After surgery and
12 rounds of chemotherapy, she was declared cancer free in July of 2021. Clinical trials like the one that helped save Addi’s life are made possible through donations and community support. Since its inception in 2010, Pedal the Cause has raised more than $36,263,645 to fund 188 cancer research projects at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

The Darnells were familiar with Pedal the Cause before Addi’s diagnosis. Both her parents, Lindsay and Andrew, are advisers with Edward Jones, the event’s presenting sponsor. “We had donated in the past because it’s a great cause, but now it is more than that,” Lindsay explains. “With Pedal the Cause, you know that 100% of the money you donate is going to support cancer research. A clinical trial worked for Addi, but that’s not always the case.” Jordan Gutierrez, one of the friends Addi made while staying at St. Louis Children’s, passed away. The Darnells are dedicated to raising the money to fund a clinical trial in Addi’s honor and Jordan’s memory to help ensure every child can beat pediatric cancer.

This year’s Pedal the Cause is Sept. 23 to 25 in Chesterfield. The Darnells are looking forward to many different parts of the event. “I’m a total foodie, so I always love getting to see the best foods that St. Louis has to offer at Taste the Cause,” Addi says. “I’m also looking forward to the connections that we get to make with so many great people who have been touched by cancer.” Lindsay adds, “It’s always such a great weekend. It’s energizing and fun, and everyone works together to make a difference.”

In the fall, Addi will be attending the University of Mississippi. With all of the excitement of preparing for this next stage of her daughter’s life, Lindsay can’t help but reflect on how close they came to missing it. “These are things normal teenagers and their parents take for granted,” she says. “For Addi, they are that much sweeter because they were almost taken away in an instant. It’s thanks to the cancer research at Siteman that we’ve been given them back. After 18 months, it’s like a dark cloud has been lifted, and it wouldn’t be possible without Pedal the Cause.”

Pedal the Cause, an annual cycling challenge benefiting research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, will be held Sept. 23 to 25. Pictured on the cover: Edward Jones managing partner Penny Pennington with Andrew, Addi and Lindsay Darnell. For more information or to register or donate, visit pedalthecause.org.

Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography

Pictured at top: Andrew, Addi and Lindsay Darnell
Photo: Tim Parker Photography