Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Totcky.
Hi Jenny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Founded in 2010 by Mark and Josie NeJame, Runway to Hope began with a heartfelt mission: to support children and families battling pediatric cancer, while ensuring that every dollar raised stays local to directly benefit the Central Florida community. From the beginning, we embraced a collaborative approach—establishing partnerships with all three of our region’s children’s hospitals. This united effort among institutions was unprecedented at the time and continues to drive meaningful progress today.
Since 2010, the Runway to Hope Spring Soiree has been known as our signature annual event—an unforgettable evening that celebrates courage, hope, and community. More than 120 children, ranging in age from 2 to 18, who are currently fighting pediatric cancer or are within five years of remission, take to the runway in an inspiring fashion show. They model much more than clothing—they showcase strength, resilience, and the spirit of survivorship. Each child walks hand-in-hand with a celebrity escort in front of more than 2,400 guests. This magical night raises over $1 million each year to fuel our mission.
While we take immense pride in the Spring Soiree’s success, we always return to our guiding question: How are we continuing to ensure that no family faces pediatric cancer alone?
Runway to Hope’s strategic investments in pediatric oncology departments have resulted in more efficient use of funds and reduced duplication of services. Having completed a total of $4.3 million in hospital and research support, we’re helping to expand local treatment options and multidisciplinary care—so families can stay close to home while receiving world-class care.
Our Family Assistance Program, launched in 2014, has grown from helping just 4 families in its first year to serving more than 880 families across Central Florida. This initiative has granted over $1.3 million in direct financial assistance to families actively undergoing treatment and struggling with the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis. These vital services are fully funded through the generosity of our community.
Runway to Hope has received many acknowledgements of our work in the community over the years. A couple that stand out are Orlando Magazine’s and Orlando Weekly’s Best Of Orlando awards, National Philanthropy Day’s Creating Change Honoree, The City of Orlando and Orange County Government proclaimed September 10, Runway to Hope day just last year, and in 2023, Runway to Hope’s impact video that aired at the Spring Soiree won a SunCoast Regional Emmy Award.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Runway to Hope has faced meaningful challenges since our founding in 2010. As a nonprofit organization reliant on community generosity, we’ve had to navigate financial and operational obstacles—always with the wellbeing of our children and families at the heart of every decision.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented one of our greatest hurdles, forcing us to cancel the Spring Soiree for two consecutive years. We never wanted to compromise the health of our immunocompromised children, nor our supporters and guests. As our largest annual fundraising event, its absence created both a financial gap and an emotional one. But even without the spotlight, we pressed on—finding new ways to fundraise, support, and uplift the families who needed us most.
More recently, Runway to Hope’s request for Florida state appropriations to support pediatric cancer families went unmet… and we weren’t the only ones. Not to mention on a national level, only 4% of federal government cancer research funding is allocated toward pediatric cancers. This staggering statistic underscores exactly why Runway to Hope exists. Families battling childhood cancer today cannot afford to wait for more government funding.
Our mission has never been more urgent. We are here to bridge the gap, to provide what others don’t, and to ensure that Central Florida’s families have the resources and care they need to face the unimaginable.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Runway to Hope?
Runway to Hope is a Central Florida-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families battling pediatric cancer, primarily in Central Florida, while seeking a cure. We were founded in 2010 by Mark & Josie NeJame who really wanted to make a difference by making sure dollars raised in our community would make a tangible, local impact for families fighting this unforgivable disease.
We serve as a vital lifeline for families in active treatment, offering everything from mental health & physical rehabilitation services to financial assistance through our Family Assistance Program. This program helps families cover essential costs like rent, utilities, gas, groceries, and at the worst of times, funeral expenses -during a time when parents are often forced to leave work to care for their sick child. Since 2014, we’ve supported over 850 families and granted over $1.3 million in direct financial aid. We also work closely with all three local children’s hospitals to fund critical pediatric oncology research, treatment programs, and multidisciplinary care initiatives right here in our community – so our families don’t have to leave their homes for quality treatment.
We’re best known for our signature annual event, the Runway to Hope Spring Soiree. With an audience of more than 2,400 guests, this unforgettable evening features over 120 brave children each in treatment or within five years of remission, walking the runway hand-in-hand with celebrity escorts. It’s not just a fashion show; it’s a powerful celebration of strength, survivorship, and the spirit of hope. The Soiree alone raises over $1 million each year and is a cornerstone of our fundraising efforts.
What makes Runway to Hope unique is the scope of our support, the strength of our partnerships, and the heart behind our mission. We are the only pediatric cancer nonprofit in our region that funds both family-level assistance and hospital-based initiatives, making us a bridge between families and the broader medical system. We also foster collaboration between all three of Central Florida’s major children’s hospitals—something that was not being done before we arrived.
Most importantly, we are hyper-local. Unlike national organizations, every dollar we raise stays right here in our community, ensuring that our impact is both visible and deeply personal.
What we’re most proud of brand-wise is the authenticity of our work and the trust we’ve built with our families. To them, Runway to Hope isn’t just a charity, it’s a source of relief, community, and unwavering support. Our brand stands for hope in action, and our visual identity, messaging, and events are all designed to reflect that mission with dignity, energy, and heart.
We want your readers to know that pediatric cancer doesn’t just affect the child, it impacts the entire family. Our programs are designed to lift families up during one of the darkest chapters of their lives, so they can focus on healing, not hardship. Whether you’re a donor, sponsor, volunteer, or simply an advocate, you have the power to walk alongside us and help make sure that no family faces pediatric cancer alone.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Over the years, we’ve learned that the greatest impact comes not just from what we give but from how we listen. Every family’s journey through pediatric cancer is deeply personal, and no two needs are ever the same. While we began with a broad mission to support families and fund local treatment options, we quickly realized the importance of staying flexible, open, and deeply connected to the voices of those we serve.
We’ve also learned that growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line. There have been moments, like navigating the COVID-19 pandemic or facing shifts in funding, where we had to pause, regroup, and adapt. Those challenges reminded us that resilience is just as important behind the scenes as it is on the runway.
Most of all, we’ve learned that community is everything. Whether it’s the hospital partners who collaborate with us, the volunteers who give their time, or the donors who trust us with their resources, Runway to Hope is only as strong as the people who believe in our mission.
We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and equally aware that we’ll always have more to learn. Remaining teachable, compassionate, and committed to doing the right thing has been one of our most important guiding principles.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.runwaytohope.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runwaytohope/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runwaytohope
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/runwaytohope/
