Courage for Carter

02/20/2026

This is why I advocate so much!
Claire is now the 4th child linked with Marshall county to be diagnosed with DIPG!!

Jaisyn Reese-Plymouth
Carter King (my son)-Plymouth
Sophie Petz-Argos
Claire Schmitt- mom is Plymouth alumni

Something is going on!! They say this is “rare”! They say there’s no known cause and so far there’s no cure.

Claire’s family needs your help for them to help give Claire the absolute best life they can! I’ve been in her shoes and every single bit of donations goes for bills, medication, groceries, gas, necessities while youre traveling for the hospital, and the child’s bucket list. It’s very needed and appreciated!!!

Please go to help support this family next weekend and also please help us fight to find a cure!!

Claire Schmitt, was diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma)—an inoperable, terminal brain tumor on November 4th, 2025.

She is the daughter of Jordan and Cierra Schmitt and the little sister to Henry. She is the grand daughter of Kirk and Dianna Weiss, Greg and Jessica Carroll, and Joe and Sue Schmitt.

Marshall County is being invited to support this beautiful family by attending a Chicken and Noodle Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Plymouth Community Church from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $15 a ticket and all proceeds will go directly to Claire and her family. This dinner is an opportunity for the community to surround the family with love, prayer and tangible support. Dinner is available dine in or carry out and will include chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and a bottle of water.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Life Plex welcome desk, The Coffee Lodge & Bakery, or by contacting one of her grandparents. You can also access a venmo link on the social media and on flyers around Marshall County. Tickets will also be available at the door.

02/16/2026

What we would have given to see our child grow up…

02/15/2026

02/09/2026

A family never forgets the moment they’re told there is no cure.
We know that moment. And we refuse to accept it.

“Uncurable Is Unacceptable” is more than a tagline — it’s how we fight.
With urgency. With hope. With everything we have.

Stand with us, take the pledge: https://thecurestartsnow.org/unacceptable

02/04/2026

This is a moment to celebrate! 🌟 Thanks to the tireless efforts of families, survivors, and advocates, two landmark bills—the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (AKACA) and the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act (GKAC)—have passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. These bills are transformative for children with brain tumors and rare diseases, removing barriers to critical care and fast-tracking the development of life-saving treatments.

We are deeply grateful to all incredible advocates in the PBTF community and beyond who shared their stories directly with Congress to make this victory possible. Learn more about the incredible impact of their advocacy here: https://bit.ly/3MiOgd8

01/23/2026

Let's do today's Random Act of Kindness in memory of Carter King.

💛Carter King💛

Carter was the type of person who could put a smile on your face the second he entered a room. He was the light and joy everywhere he went, but was also a listening ear or shoulder to cry on. He had a heart of gold with the best of intentions and put others first.
He was given a terminal brain-cancer diagnosis but didn’t let that wipe the smile off of his face. He would even happily cheer on his way to get radiation or anesthesia. He fought with love and bravery til the very last second. All he wanted was for people to learn to find the love and beauty in everything and be courageous.

Warm up someone's soul today with a RAOK, let's make sure Carter knows we found the love and beauty even in the cold weather. ❄

01/16/2026

All that should still be.. 💔

01/02/2026

Let 2026 be the year awareness turns into action, research turns into breakthroughs, and hope turns into a cure. For the warriors. For the survivors. For the families.

10/18/2025

Join us on June 20th for Carter's Cancer Stomp 5k! Fun for everyone, our 5k will include color explosions and Halloween obstacles. After you've crossed the finish line, hang out for our silent auction, costume contest, and meet with local businesses. All proceeds benefit the Indiana (Courage for Car...

10/03/2025

Big news: We’re Platinum!🏆

The Cure Starts Now has once again earned the 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. This is the highest recognition for nonprofit accountability that fewer than 1% of organizations reach, and one that we’ve worked hard to achieve and maintain every year since our founding.

It demonstrates our unwavering commitment to openness, accountability, and stewardship. And means we can proudly say that every dollar you donate is fueling bold, collaborative research that fights the toughest pediatric brain cancers, so we can unlock a universal cure for all.💛

Thank you for fighting with us!

10/03/2025

September may be over, but childhood cancer lasts all year. Let's work to change the stats.

Donate today, because kids can't fight cancer alone!®: https://www.acco.org/donate/