Running Toward Hope: Meet Our New Activewear Grant Recipient, Ava

Running Toward Hope: Meet Our New Activewear Grant Recipient, Ava

At the Move For Jenn Foundation, every grant we award is more than just a prosthetic—it’s a second chance at living life without limits. This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re honored to introduce you to our newest activewear grant recipient: eight-year-old Ava Zawislak, a dancer, gymnast, and fighter who has faced osteosarcoma with incredible strength and resilience.

Ava’s journey began in the spring of 2023 when she started experiencing leg pain. What her family thought might be a sports injury turned out to be something much more serious. After weeks of doctor visits, an MRI and biopsy confirmed every parent’s worst fear: osteosarcoma in her left distal femur. Within days, Ava began chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

When it came time for surgery, Ava and her family were faced with a life-altering decision. Because of the tumor’s location, limb-salvage surgery wasn’t an option. Instead, they had to choose between a full amputation above the knee or a rare, complex procedure called rotationplasty—where the lower leg is rotated and reattached, allowing the ankle to function as a new “knee” joint.

It was an impossible choice, but one that Ava faced with courage. Inspired by the story of Canadian Paralympic snowboarder John Leslie, Ava chose rotationplasty so she could continue chasing the sports and activities she loves.

In the months that followed, Ava amazed everyone with her determination. She quickly adapted to her “little leg,” met every milestone in rehab, and returned to school just weeks after surgery. By December, she was walking again on her first prosthesis. This year, after more surgeries and countless hours of physical therapy, Ava has grown stronger than ever.

But here’s the challenge: insurance only covers one prosthetic per year, and Ava’s current everyday leg is designed mainly for walking. What she needs now is a running blade—a prosthetic built for athletics—that will help her return to the movement she’s been dreaming of: running.

Her mom put it best: “Running is one of the key activities we wanted to ensure her return to—it’s the promise of rotationplasty, to enable higher levels of activity.”

This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re asking for your help to raise $5,000 to help fund Ava’s new running blade. With your support, Ava will have the chance to run, play, and push her limits—not just survive cancer, but thrive beyond it.

✨ Here’s how you can help Ava run again:

• Donate today: Every dollar brings Ava closer to her running blade.

• Share her story: Help us spread awareness during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

• Stand with survivors: Show families like the Zawislaks they are not alone.

Together, we can turn Ava’s dream into reality. Will you help us cross the finish line?

👉 Donate Now to Help Ava, and Other Kids Like Her, Run Again