“Madelyn James Bow Bash” for Pediatric Cancer Sees Record Turnout Friday May 16
From Heartbreak to Hope: One Alexandria Couple’s Journey of Love and Resilience
Alexandria, VA – On August 13, 2022, Jackie and Dan Didio’s world was shattered when their baby girl, Madelyn James, lost her battle with cancer. Tiny Madelyn, a twin, left behind her sister Hannah. In the wake of their profound loss, the Alexandria parents found a way to transform their grief into a beacon of hope for other stricken families.
Determined to make a difference, the Didios established the Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation, dedicated to supporting needy families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. The non-profit has become a lifeline, providing both financial and emotional support to families facing the toughest of times.
On Friday, May 16, the foundation held its third annual Madelyn James Bow Bash at Alx Community: Waterfront, a light-filled entertainment venue overlooking the Potomac River in Old Town. The fundraiser is named in honor of Madelyn’s love of bows and the reception space was decked out in bows of every shape, size, and color. Attendees donned bows in their dresses, lapels, shoes, and hair, as they remembered the small child with the arresting smile and deep blue eyes.
This year’s Bow Bash drew a record turnout of 150 attendees, surpassing last year’s attendance of 100. The evening took in $56,000 which will support one family. That also exceeds last year’s event which raised $37,000.
Dubbed the Purple Bow Tie Party, it also honored Nico Ramirez, a beloved child who lived with his parents, Claudia and Pablo, in Fairfax, Virginia. Nico had just turned one when he passed away in March. The Ramirez family attended Friday’s Bash.
The City of Alexandria officially recognized May 16 as “Nico Ramirez and Madelyn James Day” in honor of these two young children lost to cancer.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins stopped in to deliver a proclamation.
“Tonight is about honoring and it is also about celebrating. It is about honoring Maddy and Nico and their lives and their stories. Making sure that we continue to tell about the impact that those children have had, not only on their families but on each of us and everyone who got to hold and meet them,” Gaskins began in her opening remarks.
She informed the crowd that in the last year, the number of families the foundation now supports has grown from three to six.
“It’s about celebrating all the ways that they continue to wrap around everyone that they come in contact with, making sure that no family has to go through this journey alone, making sure that all have an equal opportunity to be able to protect, prevent, survive, and treat the cancer they are diagnosed with.”
The event brought together parents, children, supporters, and advocates for a powerful night of remembrance, celebration, and fundraising for families facing pediatric cancer.
Founded in 2022, the foundation has raised over $407,000 to date, offering direct, high-impact support to families with babies and toddlers undergoing cancer treatment. The non-profit particularly helps families living in poverty.
The fundraiser comes at a critical time for pediatric cancer funding, and Jackie Didio is worried about cuts to cancer research that could greatly impact the ability to save children’s lives.
“The impact is devastating,”she told Zebra. “We’ve already seen NIH cuts decrease drastically. We know that NIH only gives 4% of their budget every single year to childhood cancer. That’s it. So when you cut funding for pediatric cancer, you’re significantly cutting back the portion of clinical trials that you can have access to and also life-saving medications. Clinical trials save lives period.”
Jackie’s husband Dan shared that despite federal layoffs sweeping the DC region, he has not seen a decrease in donations.
“Our fundraising is strong as ever, and we’re actually expanding. We’ve seen more friends, more family, and more community come out because of our mission.
Dan Didio emphasized, “Our mission is to increase access and equity in pediatric cancer.”
