Story and Mission
FOUNDATION 328
O
n March 28, 2018, Aubreigh
Nicholas turned 11 years old.
But this birthday would be like
no other. On this birthday she was
battling a terrible monster called DIPG,
a terminal brain cancer that ultimately
made this her last birthday. She had
already been instrumental in bringing
her whole community together to pray
each day at 3:28 pm for her. But she
wanted more. So on March 28, 2018,
in true Aubreigh style, she taught
us that when life brings you lemons,
you make LEMONADE! She created
the Lemon Face Challenge, bringing
awareness across the globe to DIPG,
a fatal pediatric brain tumor. She first
challenged Nick Saban, Alabama
Crimson Tide’s head football coach,
who obliged by performing the lemon
face challenge. This was followed by
other coaches including Clemson’s
head coach, Dabo Sweeney. Across
the globe, the challenge continued,
including the LA Dodgers, Arizona
Diamondbacks, Good Morning Britain,
and morning shows in Korea. To date,
the lemon face challenge continues in
Australia and many other places. All
started by a little girl with a big heart
from Mobile, Alabama.
Aubreigh Nicholas was a fierce fighter
who taught her family, community,
and other parts of the world to never
give up, no matter what you may be
facing. On September 12, 2017 she
was diagnosed with the unimaginable,
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).
DIPG is a rare and fatal pediatric brain
issue. Only 4% of federal government
cancer research funding goes to study
pediatric cancer. If more than 4% was
given to childhood cancer, more trials
could have been available. More trials
equate to a step closer to finding a
cure. More funding can help off-study
medications be given at a lower dose.
As it stands now, high dose off-study
medication outcomes and side-effects
are too risky to perform without the
strict guidelines of a clinical trial. More
money for research is needed!!
tumor. Aubreigh began six weeks of
radiation two weeks after diagnosis.
The only HOPE for a child upon
diagnosis is to be accepted into a trial
and HOPE that it’s the cure or, at the
very least, gives you more TIME. There
are not many trial locations for DIPG
patients in the United States. Being
accepted into a trial is also not an easy
task. Aubreigh was accepted into a
trial at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New
York in January 2018. Unfortunately,
upon arrival to the hospital to start
treatment, Aubreigh’s new MRI showed
too much necrosis from the radiation,
therefore she was no longer eligible for
the trial. After many sleepless nights,
her parents took a chance on another
trial at Maryland’s National Institute of
Health. The trial took too long to open,
and Aubreigh’s tumor began to grow.
TIME is not an option that any child
with DIPG has. Options were close to
non-existent and travel became an
Our Upcoming Events
March 28, 2020
Battle For a Cure Baseball Tournament
Hosted by GSSA Sports
Christmas Toy Drive
6 Get out and #DoSomeGood in 2020!
When Aubreigh lost her battle on
August 15, 2018 after 11 months, her
parents were asked what they wanted
her legacy to be. The only answer they
have is to continue the legacy she
started and to help find treatments that
will ultimately lead to a cure from this
monster called DIPG.
Aubreigh’s Army Foundation 328, Inc. is
committed to providing funding to help
find a cure for DIPG and to help newly
DIPG-diagnosed families in need. Her
parents know too well how terrifying it
is to be faced with this diagnosis.
Hopefully one day, Aubreigh’s Army
Foundation 328, Inc. can help change
the ending that so many families have
faced.
Aubreigh started her
fight, our fight, and
now we must help
her END IT!!!
Donate
Please visit the website,
www.aubreighsarmyfoundation328.com
and click on the donate tab at the top.
Contact Us
www.aubreighsarmyfoundation328.com
info@aubreighsarmyfoundation328.com
P.O. Box 8154, Mobile, Alabama 36689
@aubreighsarmy
Board of Directors
Brooke Nicholas
Executive Director/Founder
Jayson Nicholas
President
Liberty Freeman
Vice President
Keith Graham, CPA
Treasurer
Christy Ruffin - Secretary
Jennifer Shirley - Marketing
& Board Member
Teresa Bonner
Board Member
Dr. Felicia Wilson, MD
Medical Advisor