Hundreds of people marched on the greens at Bay Hill Tuesday afternoon to bring awareness to the need for more research for childhood cancer. Arnie’s March Against Children’s Cancer raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for more effective treatments to treat the disease.

  • Arnie's March Against Children's Cancer at Bay Hill
  • Raises money for children's cancer research
  • Held every year during Arnold Palmer Invitational week

Rachel Mangan clearly remembers the moment when she found out her six-year-old son had cancer.

“It’s absolutely devastating,” said Mangan. “You pretty much have the world in front of you, and next thing you know you’re dealing with a journey that completely changes the trajectory of your life.”

In May 2016, Mangan’s son Lantz was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.  His family then learned his body wouldn’t respond to traditional chemotherapy.

Lantz is now undergoing a pill form of chemotherapy normally used to treat cancer in adults. 

The treatment is working, but it’s not cheap. And the many clinical trials to make Lantz’s treatment possible were also expensive.

“We want to come out and support all of the research that we can, so we can provide families with hope and a treatment option that will allow them to have their precious babies with them forever and ever,” said Mangan.

Geri Goldstein helped start Arnie’s March Against Children’s Cancer in 2012 after her daughter Whitney survived nine years of cancer, thanks to new research.

“There are so many people involved in conducting one clinical trial, that it truly is just about finances,” said Goldstein. “It’s about having enough money to continue to do that, to provide that.”

Lantz’s family is still not done with their cancer fight. But they want to help others when they can.

“We’re so blessed to be a part of something that is truly bigger than us, so that’s what our main goal is, is that we can provide support to other people that are going through our same walk,” said Mangan.

Arnie’s March Against Children’s Cancer is held every year during the week of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.