ON JULY 17, 2025, the Riley Rocks Memorial Foundation will host its third annual Riley Rocks Gala at Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers, Massachusetts. The event is a community-rallying occasion that raises critical funds to support childhood cancer warriors and their families in the fight against pediatric cancer. The financial support granted to families by the foundation makes a wide-ranging impact, helping to cover everything from rent and medical bills, groceries and transportation to family respite and beyond.
Based in Beverly, Massachusetts, the Riley Rocks Memorial Foundation was established in honor of Riley Bridget Fessenden: a brave, beautiful, beaming little girl who set an example rooted in love, community, and hope. It was during the second annual Riley Rocks Gala this past January that Riley’s older sister and best friend, Meghan Fessenden, stood in front of a room of more than 200 people and told her little sister’s story, one intertwined with the foundation that today bears her name and carries on her legacy.
Born April 9, 2007, Riley kept her parents, Kamie and Todd Fessenden, plenty busy. She was a cheerleader, a softball player, and an Irish step dancer. She dreamt of becoming a preschool teacher one day. “Smiley Riley” was the name, and that’s exactly what you got: a caring, bursting ray of positivity with a giggle that never stopped.
Shortly after her 6th birthday in 2013, Riley’s life changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with stage four Esthesioneuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer affecting the nasal and brain cavities. The doctors told Kamie and Todd that their daughter, one of four children in the family, had six months to live. From that point on, life would be different for Riley and the entire Fessenden family, including siblings Drew, Meghan, and Daniel.
Yet, Riley decided that she had plenty more shining and smiling to do. Inside that wonderful, resilient, diamond-bright imagination of hers—a place cancer could not touch—she knew there was still joy to spread, help to give, and an impact to make. Riley’s story was only getting started, and she would tell it on her own terms.
Across three years, 104 radiation treatments, 14 rounds of chemotherapy, and countless hospital stays, medications, and blood transfusions, Riley inspired an entire community with her heart and her bravery. Not to be deterred by circumstance, Riley would often journey straight from the hospital to cheer practice. She spent birthdays and holidays donating toys, gift cards, and money to the hospitals and organizations who were supporting her during her fight with cancer. And when the Beverly community organized a 12 Days of Riley Rocks holiday drive, Riley knew exactly what she wanted to do with the overwhelming number of gifts she received: donate them to other kids, like her, who needed a reason to smile.
Though she was fighting a battle of her own, Riley did whatever she could to make others happy. And that incredible passion took her out into the world to accomplish even more incredible things. She received an honorary degree from Endicott College. She was awarded a key to the City of Beverly. She stood tall at center court of a Boston Celtics game, lent her voice to the Boston Red Sox commentators booth, and even met Tom Brady. All this, because of the person she was and the impact she had on the world around her.
It was during the summer of 2016, nearly 40 months after her initial diagnosis, when Riley passed at nine years old. But her courageous battle with cancer and fighting spirit did not end there. Kamie and Todd founded the Riley Rocks Memorial Foundation to continue the fight against pediatric cancer and to honor Riley’s indomitable spirit. The communal army that rallied around Riley and her family during her battle continues to be the key component to the foundation’s success. From her large and loving family to their neighbors, her parents’ high school classmates, Meghan, Drew, and Daniel’s friends, her grandparents, and all of those who love the family, people continue to show up year after year in celebration of Riley.
Riley’s entire journey, from the powerlessness of a doctor’s diagnosis to her ascension as a local, regional, and national source of inspiration, was a defining and incredibly difficult period for her older sister, Meghan, too. Being just 18 months apart in age, Riley and Meghan were tight as can be during their childhood. “Over the course of her battle, Riley spent a lot of time in the hospital,” Meghan told us, “And since we were inseparable, this means I did too.” Calling back memories of those times, Meghan remembers “making bracelets in her hospital bed, splatter-painting the hospital walls, drinking blue raspberry slushies, and reading books before bedtime.” Meghan remembers Riley’s big blue eyes, contagious laugh and, “most importantly,” she emphasized, “I remember her strength.”
Meghan still struggles to find the words to express the grief she has felt from losing her younger sister. But she holds the opinion that it is not about what happens to you, it’s about what you do with it. “One of the most important things I have learned,” Meghan explained, “is how to transform my sadness into a purpose. My purpose is having the ability to help families like mine and children like Riley.”
Meghan brings her mission to life through the work she does for the Riley Rocks Memorial Foundation. This includes all of the time and effort she invested into the foundation’s first two galas, while also juggling her responsibilities as a Beverly High School student, including applying to colleges and serving as captain of her gymnastics team. Some might’ve believed she was too young to pull off two fundraising events at such scale but much like Riley, Meghan made up her mind on what exactly she was capable of. Across 2023 and 2024, the two Riley Rocks Galas generated over $100,000 for the nonprofit, with the second surpassing $50,000 in total funds raised; an incredible accomplishment, though one she didn’t accomplish on her own.
Kendel Davy, a Beverly native and founding board member of the RRMF, has been a part of the foundation since the very beginning. She had the opportunity to develop a close relationship with Riley and the Fessenden family through her involvement with Beverly youth and high school cheerleading. Since then, Kendel has helped to shape the mission of the organization and the programming for the families they support, while leading a team of volunteers to accomplish the fundraising needed to grow the foundation’s reach and impact.
In addition to her role with Riley Rocks, Kendel is an Officer of Philanthropic Strategies at Boston Children’s Hospital, and a former World Champion cheerleader for the Boston Celtics. Like Meghan, Kendel constantly draws strength from her memories spent with Riley. “With every family that we support, every small act of kindness we are able to complete, and every smile we see on a child’s face, I feel Riley with me,” Kendel explained. “Riley inspired me to get into this line of work and because of her, I will continue to pour all of my passion into this foundation and our families.”
Meghan and Kendel, along with Kamie and Todd, have led the charge when it comes to foundation priorities. But there is also an amazing support group of volunteers who assist with family outreach, fundraising, event planning, and so much more, including Amy Nesbit, Alex Kelliher, Ali Lamson, Keelin Cannon, Abby Archer, Caroline Munnelly, and Jess Hannon. There’s a quote that holds a special meaning in relation to Riley, the Fessenden family, and the foundation. It reads, “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” This sentiment shines through the brightest when discussing the dedication and commitment of the all-volunteer support staff. They are all believers in the selfless example Riley set for the world, and the foundation’s goal of supporting families impacted by pediatric cancer.
As the Fessendens experienced firsthand, the financial and emotional cost of cancer alone is astronomical. In addition to facing the harsh reality of childhood cancer, many families are also caring for multiple children, with one or both parents leaving their jobs to focus on their child, all while their regular bills continue to accumulate. And so, from the start, the Riley Rocks Memorial Foundation set out with a clear purpose: to ease life’s burdens and lessen the stress that exists outside of cancer treatment, so families can focus on the health and well-being of their child and family.
Since the inception of its family grant program in 2020, the foundation has supported more than 50 Rockstars and their families with financial assistance to be used wherever is needed most. Additional services include facilitating connections with other families, providing groceries in times of dire need, and creating special touch points, such as holiday gifts, meals, and family outings. Partnerships have been established with social workers from hospitals in the Northeast region in order to continue growing the reach of the program. And, understanding that they cannot satisfy every need a family might have, the foundation often serves as a bridge to other cancer-related nonprofits to grow the support systems their Rockstars can depend upon.
Today, these Rockstars, who are the childhood cancer warriors supported by the foundation, are the continuation of Riley’s legacy. They are kids with dreams of their own and loved ones who will do anything to make them a reality. With memories of Riley’s resilience and selflessness serving as inspiration, the entire Riley Rocks team works tirelessly to make the lives of their Rockstars and their families just a little bit easier.
Ava, only six years old, is a high spirited and positive little girl who wants to be a professional cheerleader when she grows up. She loves gymnastics, basketball, make-up and spending time with her family. She became a Rockstar after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in March of 2023. Ava’s energy is contagious and with her cancer diagnosis, she chooses to spread love and gratitude. RRMF has partnered with “Team Ava” to not only support her family, but other cancer warriors Ava’s family has met within the cancer community and different pediatric cancer focused research efforts.
Harper, age ten, is a daughter, big sister, and talented dancer. She is smart, funny, super stylish, and as her dance teacher describes “an extremely hard worker.” She likes clothes and make up, loves dance, competing, and hanging out with friends. When she grows up, Harper wants to be a professional dancer, which with her competitive nature she will definitely accomplish. Harper was the foundation’s first-ever Rockstar in 2020. Feeling grateful, mom shared that Harper has been in remission for almost five years now!
Auden Muchnik has been in remission for two and a half years after battling Ewing Sarcoma and is currently attending Lesley University studying Art Therapy and Holistic Psychology. For Auden, her cancer journey was a defining aspect of her chosen life path, and she is working to one day serve as a healing presence for those who need it. As Auden told us, “I had a lot of people that were really great [during my treatment], and I also experienced the other end of that spectrum where I did not feel taken care of.” She continued, “To show up for someone else in [a supportive] way is really fulfilling to me. Bringing joy is something that really fills me up.”
Auden’s shining light, strengthened by her life experience, was undeniable when she served as a keynote speaker during January’s Riley Rocks Gala. Same, too, is the light that both Ava and Harper possess. Their courage, strength, and perseverance in the face of unimaginable circumstances calls back to the example set by Riley. “I think it is all a journey, and there are ups and downs, but I think what makes it all worth it is the people you surround yourself with,” Auden told us. “That’s why I love Riley Rocks. Because, genuinely, the community is what makes all of it bearable.”
When looking back over the last decade-and-change, from Riley’s initial diagnosis in 2013 to the ongoing preparations for the third annual Riley Rocks Gala, Kendel Davy can’t help but think of Riley’s reaction to all that has been accomplished in her name. “People always say Riley would be so proud of us, so proud of Meghan, so proud of her family and the foundation,” Kendel started, “and, well, this is what she did when she was with us. All she wanted to do was give back to other people, help other people, and make other people smile.”
“And so, if we can bring a little bit of light and joy to these families who are battling through some really hard times,” Kendel continued, “then that’s something I am really proud of and something that I do think Riley would be proud of. We’re doing all of this because of Riley, and I’m just really grateful we all knew her and the world can still feel her impact.”
The Riley Rocks Gala is the biggest and most impactful way to support the Riley Rocks Memorial Foundation and their Rockstar families in the fight against pediatric cancer. Individuals and businesses can purchase tickets and tables, sponsor at a range of levels, and donate money and silent auction items to the foundation in support of the event. All of the proceeds raised will go towards supporting children and families, like Ava, Harper, and Auden, who need it most in Riley’s memory.
