When she was only 5, Kate Stevens was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia. Months later, her then 4-year-old sister, Caroline, donated bone marrow and saved her sister’s life with the help of doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
The Stevens sisters recently ran the NYC Marathon in support of Fred’s Team, the official running program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. They had a goal of $18,000 and raised $26,902, money that is specifically directed toward pediatric cancer research and support at MSK.
Kate, 23, is in remission. She graduated from Rye High School in 2020; Caroline, 22, graduated in 2021. They are both living at home in Rye with their parents, Scot and Jennifer Stevens, and their brothers, Charlie and Jack.
The idea of running the marathon together has been kicking around for a while because giving back is very much ingrained in the Stevens family ethos.
“After I was able to help Kate, I’ve always felt this strong need to help others,” said Caroline. “I’ve tried to put others in the forefront of my mind, trying to help them first. Our parents taught us that.”
Kate, who recently graduated from Harvard University with a degree in human evolutionary biology, also feels compelled to give back.
In high school, she was a research intern at the MSK cancer center. In 2018, she also was named “Honored Hero” by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society when she biked 3,500 miles across the country to raise money for blood cancer research. (The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society recently changed its name to Blood Cancer United.)
She is now applying to medical school.
“I take inspiration from all of the nurses and doctors and scientists and researchers that truly saved my life,” she said.
Contributed photo
Caroline recently graduated from the University of Richmond with a leadership studies major and a law minor. She teaches third graders in Harlem as part of Teach for America, and is considering pursuing a career in law or public policy.
Historically, childhood cancer research has been underfunded and under researched because the population is small.
“It’s a very complex and messy history, but that leaves kids receiving treatments that are often very outdated and were meant for adults,” said Kate.
“We’re shooting for more cures, more research, and better outcomes for all patients. But we’re also hoping for better quality of life for these patients, so that children down the line don’t have to deal with these long-term effects that I still deal with day to day.”
The chemotherapy Kate received caused her ovaries to fail; she is now undergoing experimental treatments to potentially preserve a fragment of her fertility.
On her fundraising page, Kate wrote about her journey to save her fertility.
“Consisting of biweekly bloodwork and scans, daily fertility shots, 10 procedures, and 15 trips to a specialist in St. Louis, Mo., this experience was small compared to what I endured as a child, but it nonetheless reminded me of something so many of us know: once cancer touches your life, whether personally or tangentially, your life is forever changed.”
Both sisters have always been into competitive sports — cycling for Kate, running and lacrosse for Caroline.
“I’ve always been up for a challenge, any challenge,” Kate said. “I think a lot of that came out wanting to push the physical boundary of what I was told may not be possible.”
The marathon had to wait until both were out of college and had time to train properly. But they did not train together.
“Caroline is way out of my league,” said Kate.
“But we talked about it a lot!” Caroline added.
During the race, Caroline was in the second wave; Kate was in the third.
Their parents were with them every step of the way, emotionally if not physically.
Jennifer and Scot wrote in an email: “Their participation is more than a fundraising effort; they are truly driven by gratitude, empathy, and a real purpose. Seeing them give back to the hospital that gave us so much is a reminder that even the hardest times can lead to something deeply meaningful.
“We couldn’t be prouder to see them carry that spirit forward as they run each mile on Sunday. Ultimately, I think they would say they feel like they are running for everyone who has faced cancer and for those who are still fighting it. We have to believe that every effort brings us closer to a cure.”
