The NoahBRAVE Ball

NoahBRAVE was created in 2021 to honor the late Noah Evans of Franklin, TN. Noah was diagnosed with a Diffuse Midline Glima (DMG) brain tumor when he was 12 years old after experiencing headaches following soccer practice.  Sixteen months later, after brain surgery, multiple rounds of chemo and radiation, and two clinical trials, Noah passed from earth to Heaven.  His parents created the NoahBRAVE foundation to honor their middle son and support families who are going through the same struggles as the Evans family.  

This type of childhood cancer is not very common, nor is it very known - Around 300 children receive this terminal diagnosis each year. Parents are told to take their child home and make as many memories as they can. Either one or both parents quit their jobs or work limited hours to spend what time they have left with their child, so finances are not their priority.

To help fill the gap, the NoahBRAVE Foundation helps these families pay their rent or mortgage, buy groceries, pay for utilities, help with transportation to doctor appointments, pay for funeral expenses, plus much more.

Susan Morgan is the Nurse Coordinator for the Seattle Children’s Brain Tumor Team; however her reason for speaking at the inaugural NoahBRAVE Ball goes far beyond her professional and clinical experience.  Susan and Lori share a decades-long friendship that started at Auburn University in 1998, both gymnasts, and a shared calling that neither of them could have ever imagined.  

Prior to finding her way to the Brain Tumor Team at Seattle Chidlren's Hospital, a role that one of the doctors on the team said she was born to do, Susan had been a pediatric intensive care unit nurse for the majority of her career.  

As the Nurse Coordinator for the Seattle Children’s Brain Tumor Team, Susan manages care and keeps the doctors in line for all of the brain tumor patients at SCH.   

She feels blessed to serve such a special population and can’t imagine doing anything else.

Tim and Angela, along with their children Wyatt and Ryder, live in Washington Township, Michigan. Their lives changed forever on October 19, 2023, when Ryder was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) at age 7. Given just 8–12 months to live, he courageously beat those odds by more than a year before passing away on October 22, 2025, at age 9.

Ryder loved his family, friends, BMX biking, comedy, and the outdoors. Known for his quick wit and contagious sense of humor, he believed laughter was the best medicine and continued bringing joy to others throughout his cancer journey.

In Ryder’s honor, the Finkel Family has turned pain into purpose by partnering with the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation and helping lead Comedy 4 Cancer, which supports pediatric cancer families through live comedy events.

Ryder’s spirit, courage, and love of life continue to inspire his family and everyone who knew him.

The Barn at Sycamore Farms, Arrington, TN 

The Barn at Sycamore Farms, our venue for the inaugural NoahBRAVE ball, provides a warm, welcoming ambiance that combines luxury and Southern charm.  

Enjoy an elegant evening featuring a cocktail hour with delicious hors d'oeuvres, live music, and a full ball, silent auction, dinner, keynote speaker, hear from one of our NoahBRAVE families, comedy entertainment, DJ, dancing and more!