Upcoming Events
Webinar: The Power of Narrative in an Uncertain World
Join Our Reflective Writing Webinar for Eye Cancer Survivors, Their Families, and the Professionals Who Treat Them
Thursday, November 5 at 4 p.m. PDT / 7 p.m. EDT:
Please join us Thursday, November 5 at 4 p.m. PDT / 7 p.m. EDT for a one-hour webinar with Carolyn Roy-Bornstein, M.D., pediatrician, narrative medicine facilitator, and author of the book A Prescription for Burnout: Restorative Writing for Healthcare Professionals. Carolyn has led reflective writing workshops for medical professionals, patients, and family caregivers all over the world and prides herself in creating safe spaces that invite sharing and healing.
When we or our loved ones are ill or injured, the world can be a scary place – full of uncertainty and anxiety. We are in unfamiliar environments. We lack agency. Clinicians also operate with ambiguity. A diagnosis may not be clear; treatment may not go as planned; eye-salvage may not be an option; cure may not be possible.
Reflective writing is an evidence-based technique that can help us all feel more empowered, process our emotions and reactions to this uncertainty, and make meaning of new situations.
WHO CAN JOIN: The webinar is open to all retinoblastoma survivors, family members, and healthcare professionals who care for our community.
RECORDING: This webinar will be recorded, and all registrants will receive access to the video replay after the event.
COST: Registration is free-of-charge to all participants. If you would like to make a donation when registering, your gift will help us offer more events that support families, survivors, and professionals.
Retinoblastoma Family Days and Weekends
REGISTER NOW for the following events!
Philadelphia Rb Family Day
Join World Eye Cancer Hope USA for the Philadelphia Retinoblastoma Family Day at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)! Meet and socialize with kids and adults at various stages of their Rb journey. This day is designed for patients, survivors, friends, families, and medical professionals to connect and build lasting relationships.
WHO IS INVITED: Family, friends, and supporters of a current Rb patient or Rb survivor (non-local families are welcome!)
DATE: Saturday, December 5, 2026
TIME: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: CHOP Buerger Center, 3500 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104
WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED: Lunch, educational sessions, activities, child life programming for all children in attendance, and a panel discussion including renowned retinoblastoma specialists Dr. Carol L. Shields and Dr. Ann Leahey.
CHOP GIFT CARD DRIVE: We will collect gift cards (Amazon, Walmart, gas station, etc.) to donate to retinoblastoma families in need of assistance.
RSVP: Kindly RSVP by Saturday, November 28 using this link: https://givebutter.com/philly2026. Registration is $25 per family for up to two (2) adults and four (4) children. If this cost presents a hardship, please contact us.
This event is hosted in conjunction with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Retinoblastoma Service.
SUPPORT Rb FAMILY EVENTS:
This event is supported by generous contributions from families, foundations, and sponsors. Your registration fee helps cover event expenses, and if you would like to help fund other retinoblastoma family events, please consider making an additional tax-deductible financial contribution when registering for the event. Email Marissa Gonzalez at marissa@wechope.org or Susan Pultman at pultmans@chop.edu with any questions.
SAVE THE DATE for the following events!
One Retinoblastoma World 2027
Date: Saturday, September 11 – Monday, September 13, 2027.
Location: Elysium Manly Hotel – Sydney, 55 N Steyne, Manly NSW 2095, Australia.
The 9th One Rb World Conference will follow the 59th International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) World Congress, which will be held in Sydney, Australia, 8-11 September 2027.
Save the date for another fabulous opportunity to connect, collaborate, and build community with families, survivors, Rb professionals, and scientists from around the world.
More details to come!
Support Rb Family Events
This event is supported by generous contributions from families, foundations and sponsors. If you would like to help fund this Family Day, other retinoblastoma family events, or One Rb World Family Day, please consider making a tax-deductible financial contribution to WE C Hope USA.
The Espinosa family have been attending Southern California Family Day since its inception in 2018, with their Rb survivor, Angel. In 2023, they surrounded our entire Rb community with support, and supplied us all with the best fried chicken in town.
During our 2024 Denver Family Weekend, current patients, survivors, family members, and WE C Hope USA hosts had an awesome adventure at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.
Our Recent Events
Our most recent family events are documented on our blog – see the Recent Events below for more details.
October Sibling Support Webinar
Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Time: 4 pm PDT / 7 pm EDT
WE C Hope Canada Board Member and Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), Morgan Livingstone, Resource Navigator at the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and CCLS, Amanda Van Wagner, and WE C Hope USA Board Member and Rb mom, Elana Kirby, held a powerful, sibling-focused webinar.
They explored how the siblings of Rb patients are impacted by diagnosis and offer practical ways to support their emotional wellbeing.
7th Southern California Rb Family Day
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 1:30 – 4:30 pm
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), 4650 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
“Read-Aloud for a Cause” Instagram Giveaway!
In September 2025, we celebrated diversity and representation for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) with KnowTheGlow, and author Paty Montesinos! Our “Read-Aloud for a Cause” Instagram Giveaway highlighted the marvelous magic of inclusive literature! In Paty’s two bilingual English and Spanish children’s books, I Love My Magical Eye Patch! and The Pirate and his Magical Eye Patch, children are encouraged to embrace wearing an eye patch and be mindful and positive about their differences.
Eye patches have a healing role in the care of retinoblastoma and other eye conditions. Kids may wear them after treatment to strengthen a weaker eye, between enucleation surgery and receiving a prosthetic eye, or when a prosthetic can’t be worn due to infection, cost, or availability. Paty’s Magical Eye Patch books help children feel confident, celebrated, and seen through these tough moments.
People Participated By:
- Recording a 10–30 second video sharing why representation in children’s books matters to them.
- Posting as a public post on Instagram between Sept 2 and Sept 26, 2025 at 11:59 pm PDT.
- Tagging: @worldeyecancerhope, @know_the_glow, and @paty.millan.montesinos_author
- Using the hashtags #MagicalEyePatch & #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth in your caption
- Following all 3 accounts
Two winners received: a signed set of Paty’s books and a swag bundle from WE C Hope and KnowTheGlow.
First Northern California Rb Family Day
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
Time: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Location: San Francisco’s LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 1155 Market Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, California 94103
Event Description
On May 3rd, we hosted our first Northern California Family Day at the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind – and what a joyful gathering it was! Forty patients, survivors, and family members came together from across central and northern California to celebrate the power of community. Heartfelt connections, shared stories, and laughter filled the day as children played, parents bonded, and new friendships bloomed.
Read more from our blog: Our Retinoblastoma Community Shines in the Golden City
One Retinoblastoma World 2024
Date: Tuesday 15 – Thursday 17 October, 2024.
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Event: 175 patients, survivors, their family members, medical professionals and scientists gathered in Hawaii for the 7th global meeting, with many more joining online. We shared three fabulous days of community, conversation, and collaboration, advancing patient-centred Rb care and research together. The program included presentations, panel discussion, relaxed networking, and child life activities for all ages.
Read more on our blog in our 3-part review: Hawaii Says “ALOHA” to the 7th One Rb World Conference and Global Retinoblastoma Community
Find out more about the One Rb World conference.
2024 Denver Retinoblastoma Family Weekend
Date: Friday 16 – Sunday 18 February, 2024
Location: Hilton Garden Inn at Cherry Creek – all activities and meals will originate at the hotel.
Event: 50 young patients, survivors of all ages, and their families from the Rockies and beyond joined WE C Hope USA for a fun-filled weekend in the Mile High City! The event included a relaxed Friday social at our hotel, a soaring adventure at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, a joyful evening Rockin’ the Rockies at Swallow Hill Music, and a walk on the wild side behind the scenes at Denver Zoo.
Read more from our blog: Mile High Moments at the Denver Retinoblastoma Family Weekend
2023 California Retinoblastoma Family Day
Date: Saturday November 4, 2023
Time: 11.30am – 2.30pm
Location: Little Cottonwood Park, Los Alamitos, California.
Event: 95 parents, survivors of all ages, patients still in treatment, their siblings and other relatives and supporters gathered together for another brilliant picnic party full of fun, friendship, and support. Look out for our blog report of the event, coming up in early December.
Read more from our blog: Fun in the So Cal Sun: 6th Annual Southern California Retinoblastoma Family Day
Mid-Atlantic Retinoblastoma Family Weekend
Date: Friday 10 – Sunday 12 March, 2023
Time: 4pm, Friday – 2pm, Sunday.
Location: Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport, Arlington, Virginia.
Event: Three days of fun, friendship, support, and relaxation for children affected by retinoblastoma, survivors, and their families. .
Read more from our blog (this is a 2-part post): Retinoblastoma in D.C.: A Capital Weekend of Friendship, Community and Fun
Texas Retinoblastoma Family Weekend
Date: Friday 2 – Sunday 4 December, 2022
Time: 4pm, Friday – 2pm, Sunday.
Location: La Quinta Inn and Suites near The Domain, Austin, Texas.
Event: Three days of fun, friendship, support, and relaxation for children affected by retinoblastoma, survivors, and their families.
Read more from our blog: Laughter, Life Lessons and Love Take Root at the Texas Rb Family Weekend
2022 California Retinoblastoma Family Day
Date: Saturday November 5, 2022
Time: 11.30am – 2.30pm
Location: Little Cottonwood Park, Los Alamitos, California.
Event: 80 children, adult survivors, parents, and their relatives and supporters enjoyed a day of fun, friendship, support, and relaxation in glorious fall sunshine. We reserved a shaded picnic area in a lovely family-friendly park, with plenty of play opportunities for all ages. Kids loved the Disney-themed Moon Bounce, and the giant Jenga and Connect 4 games were popular with everyone. There was plenty of time to mingle chat over delicious picnic lunch and happy play.
Read more from our blog: Sun and Smiles Shine at the 5th Annual Southern California Retinoblastoma Family Day
Back to School Virtual Q&A Event
Date: Wednesday September 7, 2022
Time: 6pm – 8pm CDT
Location: Zoom Virtual Event
Event: The new school year is approaching! Whether your child with #retinoblastoma is newborn, just starting pre-school, or graduating from college, our free Back to School Zoom event is the perfect place to ask questions and share experiences about their education.
We will be joined by experts in teaching visually impaired children, and there will be plenty of time to share your own experiences.
While anyone is welcome to join us, the focus will be on the US school system.
Midwest Retinoblastoma Family Weekend
Date: Friday 8 – Sunday 10 July, 2022
Time: 4pm, Friday – Noon, Sunday.
Location: Holiday Inn Chicago Schaumburg.
Event: Three days of fun, friendship, support, and relaxation for children affected by retinoblastoma, survivors, and their families.
- We enjoyed mingling and getitng to know one another over a relaxed dinner of Chicago-style deep pan pizza.
- Adults and children alike took a walk on the wild side with hands-on animal experiences at the Brookfield Zoo.
- We proudly wore our crowns, and banqueted with knights and princesses at the Medieval Times.
- We shared experiences of living with prosthetic eyes and treatment side effects, and how to help kids with visual impairment thrive in school from their earliest days.
Read from our blog: Midwest Retinoblastoma Family Weekend: Friendships Formed in the Windy City
One Retinoblastoma World 2021 and 2020
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 5th and 6th One Rb World events were held virtually, with a diverse roster of speakers and topics addressed at both meetings.
Read more about One Rb World 2021, and watch session videsos.
Read more about One Rb World 2020, and watch session videsos.
