Kylie Rose’s Run: 12 years of supporting patient care and cancer research

Kylie – along with her mom Carrie and sister Emmie – at the 2025 Kylie Rose’s Run fundraiser. Kylie’s S.S.S.B. motto on their shirts stands for sweet, smart, strong and brave.

In 2015, Kylie Rose Jacobs was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She was only 5 years old. She made it through multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, two occurrences of cancer in her liver and a stem cell transplant. Along the way and continuing today, as Kylie gears up for her senior year at Copley High School, she and her family have spread a message of hope.

Outreach begins early

Eric and Carrie, Kylie’s parents, had two other young kids at home – 3-year-old Emmie and 6-month-old Blake – who needed care while Kylie underwent treatment. Thankfully, the Jacobs family had plenty of family and friends nearby to help. “It was a roller coaster after Kylie’s cancer diagnosis. She was the sweetest angel, and we wondered how this could’ve happened,” Carrie said. “But we leaned on our faith and knew God was with us. Every day, we chose to have hope, keep joy and find the smallest victory to celebrate.”

While Kylie was hospitalized at the Akron Children’s Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders inpatient unit, Carrie noticed other families didn’t have as much support. “Some patients didn’t have extended family members around to visit, and one or both parents had to work. We wanted to do something to help,” Carrie recalled. “I used to coach track, and Eric and I love running. We decided to organize a 5K run to gather and thank Kylie’s supporters – and donate the money to Akron Children’s. The inaugural event in 2015 drew 700 people and raised $15,000.”

Just six months after treatment for kidney cancer, a CT scan showed a cancerous spot on Kylie’s liver. The Jacobs family was devastated, but that didn’t stop them from planning the second annual 5K. In fact, they took their fundraising a step further by starting a nonprofit organization called Kylie Rose’s Run.

Kylie getting encouragement from Emmie and Blake.

Kylie Rose’s Run Fund

Dr. Jeffrey Hord, Kylie’s oncologist who retired from Akron Children’s in 2026, guided Eric and Carrie on working with the Akron Children’s Foundation. “Once you give $25,000, you can create your own fund and choose where the money goes,” Carrie explained. “Dr. Hord told us that most people don’t start a nonprofit when they’re in the cancer fight with their child. Maybe I felt in my soul that I still needed to bring something positive out of what was going on.”

The Jacobs family created the Kylie Rose’s Run Fund. They designated half of the money to help Cancer Center families financially, such as covering mortgage or car payments while kids are undergoing treatment. The other half of the money would go to cancer survivorship research.

Carrie, Kylie and Eric provide Dr. Jeffrey Hord with a donation from the 2017 Kylie Rose’s Run.

Kylie’s Bags of Love

As Kylie’s parents planned the second 5K, Kylie asked for a sewing machine for Christmas in 2015. She remembered a newly diagnosed patient on the cancer unit and wanted to do something special. She sewed a simple bag and filled it with fun items like Play-Doh®, socks and a coloring book. Kylie’s Bags of Love were born.

“I put the bag on Kylie’s CaringBridge page, and word spread quickly,” Carrie said. “People wanted to donate items or sew bags. It’s a tangible way people of all ages can get involved. To date, we’ve provided over 7,000 bags for kids throughout Akron Children’s.”

The final Kylie Rose’s Run

The Jacobs family has held the annual fundraiser for the past 12 years, raising more than $400,000 so far for Akron Children’s. However, 2026 will be the last run. “This year seems like the perfect time to end it. We did it for 12 years, every year Kylie’s been in school, and she’ll be going to college next year,” Carrie said. “We’ll continue with Kylie’s Bags of Love, and we’ll find new ways to support Akron Children’s. For this final run on Aug. 30, Kylie wants to fill the stadium!”

Kylie’s family, friends and community members come together each year to raise money to help Akron Children’s patients.

Kylie today

Kylie is healthy and gets annual checkups at Akron Children’s. She plays clarinet in the Copley High School marching band and takes classes at The University of Akron Dance Institute. She’s visiting colleges with strong nursing programs, as she wants to be a pediatric nurse, and she wants to minor in dance. “Dancing has been so healthy for Kylie’s body,” Carrie said. “She’s had cancer three times, and she’s been through so much treatment. Dance continues to strengthen her.”

In addition to marching band and dance, Kylie is active with Copley’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes group. Last year, she shared her testimony about how cancer impacted her life and faith. “Her strength and grace have touched so many people,” Carrie offered. “Our faith is stronger than ever because of her; she’s taught us so much.

“I wouldn’t want my child or anyone else’s to go through what we have, but it’s all part of God’s plan,” she continued. “Kylie has been such a powerful part of the community, and I believe she has a direct line to God.”

Emmie and Blake were too young to remember when Kylie underwent treatment. Now that they’re older, they ask questions and look at photos to learn what she went through. “We sometimes wonder if they feel like Kylie gets more attention because of the 5K, but they don’t,” Carrie shared. “In English class, both have written about how Kylie is their hero and role model. She’s a miracle.”