About Alex

In 1995, Regina Ellis's five-year-old daughter Alexandra died after a two and a half year battle with cancer. Out of those dark days, a beacon of hope emerged.

Alexandra's family learned through experience that even the best medical care cannot provide for the many non-medical needs of families with a seriously ill child. That same year, the Ellis's, with the help of incredible community leaders and volunteers, created the Children's Cancer Association to be a compassionate resource, provide for critical unmet needs and bring joy to young hearts.

During her five years of life and throughout her battle with cancer, Alexandra taught her family to search for rainbows in every moment, even the darkest ones. She taught them to listen to the sounds of life — laughter, music, grief, compassion — and foster hope and healing.

Her soft spoken courage and acceptance of each day made the most difficult times possible and inspired her family to dedicate themselves to helping others like her. Every day, Alexandra's strength, bravery, loving heart and laughter lives on in the work of CCA and fuels the tireless efforts to create magical stories of wonder and possibilities for children in need. At the center of CCA's brand identity is the gleaming heart that Alex created in May 1995 shortly before she died. Alex has two siblings, Zach and Kate Ellis, who are CCA volunteers and share their compassion with kids like their older sister.