In the world of pediatric cancer, where the journey is often marked by heartbreak, there are rare and radiant stories that remind us why we fight. This month, Future Champions of Golf proudly highlights an extraordinary young woman whose courage, resilience, and heart for others redefine what it means to be a true champion—on and off the course and a powerful NEDvocate!
Meet Lily Adkins, a brain tumor survivor who was diagnosed at just 14 months old. Today, she’s a sophomore at Dominican University in Rockland County, New York, where she competes on the women’s rowing team. But what sets Lily apart isn’t just her comeback story—it’s her forward momentum and desire to give back.
At four, Lily was adopted by the Temple University Women’s Lacrosse Team through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation’s Adopt-A-Child program. That pairing changed her life—and now, nearly 15 years later, she’s come full circle. Inspired by the love and community she once received, Lily is leading the charge to have her own college rowing team adopt a child battling cancer. She’s not just living the NEDvocate mission—she’s embodying it.
NED stands for No Evidence of Disease, a term that gives hope to families in the darkest of times. It’s more than a medical acronym—it’s a mantra, a movement, a mission. Through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FOJ), over 1,300 children battling pediatric brain tumors and cancers have been adopted by athletic teams across the country. But in 21 years of pairing teams with children, never has there been a moment like this.
Lily Adkins is the first child ever adopted through FOJ to go on to become a collegiate athlete—and then turn around look to adopt a child herself.
Let that sink in. In a world where survivors often want to leave the pain behind, Lily is running toward it—not for herself, but for another child. Because she remembers. She remembers the teammates who made her laugh, the feeling of being included, the strength she drew from being part of something bigger. She remembers what it felt like to not feel alone.
And she never forgot.
When Lily reached out with the idea of having her Dominican University rowing team adopt a child, the tears came easily. Not just for her, but for those of us at Friends of Jaclyn who have devoted decades to this cause. It’s hard to describe what it feels like to see your mission reflected back at you—in a grown-up version of a four-year-old girl you once met as and adoptee, now rowing through the waters of adulthood with purpose and love in her wake.
This is what FOJ is about. This is what NED is about.
To Lily, being a NEDvocate isn’t just a title—it’s a responsibility. It’s a promise to never forget where she came from, and to ensure that the next child walking through those same hospital doors knows they’re not walking alone.
What makes Lily’s story even more special is its rarity. Pediatric brain tumors are the deadliest form of childhood cancer. Survivorship—especially with the kind of resilience Lily shows—is anything but guaranteed. But here she is, not only surviving, not only thriving, but reaching back to lift someone else up. That’s heroic.
Her story is more than inspiring. It’s validating. After 21 years of building this foundation, of sitting with families in their worst moments, of pairing children with teams and hoping those teams stay committed Lily has become the living proof that this works. Her journey is a lighthouse to every child in our program and every college athlete wondering if their support really makes a difference.
It does. Lily is the difference.
She has inspired countless young athletes, teammates, coaches, and now, an entirely new generation of children who will one day be adopted by teams like hers. With the strength of a survivor and the heart of a leader, Lily is showing the world what it means to SPREAD NED—not just in words, but through action, compassion, and connection.
We often talk about champions in terms of trophies and scores. But the truest champions are the ones who turn adversity into empathy, pain into purpose, and survival into service. Lily Adkins is a Future Champion not just of golf or rowing—but of life. And this month, the NEDzone shines a little brighter because of her.
Thank you, Lily, for reminding us why we do what we do. You are the dream realized. You are the hope fulfilled. And you are the beginning of something even greater.
Because of you, the ripple of kindness continues—and the wave of healing rolls on.
