Joedance Pediatric Cancer Fund

10/20/2026

We are proud to introduce the 2026 Joedance Summer Interns, Melody Matsudaira and Jessica Robey at Levine Children's.

This internship continues to honor Joe’s legacy to find better treatments with better outcomes for kids with cancer.

Matsudaira and Robey spent the summer gaining immersive wet lab experience, analyzing data with advanced software, shadowing physicians treating kids with Ewing sarcoma.

Matsudaira. a senior at Davidson College, is on the pre-med track studying Biology with a minor in Public Health.

“My time here has truly shown me the persistence, love, care, and purpose behind those treating and researching Ewing sarcoma cancer at Levine Children’s Hospital,” Matsudaira said. “Getting medical experience has been difficult for me while in college so far, but this internship has given me more skills, knowledge, connections, and future direction than I ever could have imagined.”

Robey is a sophomore at N.C. State University, where she is on the pre-Physician’s Assistant track, majoring in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Biological Sciences.

“I’ve had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in laboratory research, data analysis, and scientific collaboration,” Robey said. “My time here has strengthened my passion in pursuing a career in healthcare and making meaningful contributions within the clinical setting.”

01/12/2026

Thank you, Chip White, and the Relatively Famous Podcast, for another generous donation to Jodeance Pediatric Cancer Fund at Atrium Health Foundation.

https://atriumhealthfoundation.org/joedance/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPSQAxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKWXFzckdheHppZ2FWZWwyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHt4X5rfxfWBVimWW0cYnGGGtd8bJcp-p_rM9C3JX1htC0ylBUVnagi46uS6c_aem_8TEUiuy0sFMIMufcTJuvDA

09/23/2025

We are proud to introduce the 2025 Joedance Summer Interns, Piper Harrell and Lilly Golzar. They spent the summer working on a complicated but very important project: Phenotypic comparison between Ewing sarcoma cells grown in vitro vs. in vivo using CyTOF. The data gathered will be used for other research projects in the future at Levine Children's.

This internship continues to honor Joe’s legacy to find better treatments with better outcomes for kids with cancer. Thank you for continuing to support the Joedance Internship Program.

Atrium Health Foundation

07/01/2025

Thank you so much, Chip White and Relatively Famous, for your continued support and generosity.

10/10/2024

Congratulations!

10/02/2024

Congratulations to this past summer's Joedance Intern, Lucy Endean, for being selected to present her project at Clemson University's Research Day. Every step forward in research is a step closer to better treatments with better outcomes. We were excited to support Lucy Endean and her work at Levine Children's Hospital.

08/28/2024

Joe's legacy lives on through the funding of summer intern research projects at Levine Children's. As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month approaches, learn about the 2024 Joedance interns Lucy Endean and Sejal Johnson and their projects.


LUCY ENDEAN
HDAC inhibition synergizes with standard of care therapy in Ewing Sarcoma

My name is Lucy Endean, I am a senior at Clemson University majoring in Biological Sciences. After I complete my undergraduate degree, I plan to continue my education to become a physician assistant and would also like to continue to be a part of a research laboratory. Since a young age, I have wanted to make an impact by helping others and have always been interested in being a part of the medical field. The Joedance Pediatric Cancer Fund allowed me the opportunity to begin making a difference through research in pediatric oncology. I worked an 8 week summer internship at Levine Children’s Hospital looking for improvements to the standard of care chemotherapy for Ewing sarcoma which can be applied to other cancers in the future as well. I also got the chance to see the clinical side of our work and shadow physicians in the Levine Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders clinic and inpatient unit which made the experience even more meaningful. Classes at a university could never have provided me with the amazing opportunity I was able to experience this summer.

SEJAL JOHNSON
HDAC inhibition Increases GD2 in A673 Ewing Sarcoma Cells

My name is Sejal Johnson, and I am a student athlete going into my junior year at the University of Hartford. Throughout my educational career, I have always been intrigued by the field of science and medicine. For the last eight weeks, this internship in the Pediatric Oncology Research Lab at Atrium Health Levine Children’s has provided me with ample knowledge that extends outside of the classroom, thus solidifying my passion and curiosity for medicine. This experience would not have been possible without the generosity of Joedance Film Festival and my fellow coworkers in the lab. I will carry this new knowledge and expertise as I continue my schooling and grow into my career.

11/01/2023

Joe's Legacy List continues.

Meet the 2023 Joedance Pediatric Cancer Intern Briella Jackson and the cancer survivorship project she is working on at Levine Children's. Thank you to everyone who has supported us.

"I am a senior at NC State University majoring in Human Biology and minoring in Global Health and Health, Medicine, and Human Values. After losing a classmate to pediatric brain cancer in the fifth grade, it has been my dream to become a Pediatric Oncologist.

My research internship with Dr. Jennifer Pope in the Cancer Survivorship clinic of Atrium Health Levine Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders program has further instilled my love and hope for the field of pediatric oncology. We are working on a very exciting project pertaining to health function over time in pediatric cancer and various blood disorder survivors years after they've completed therapy. So far, one of my favorite highlights from this year has been listening to the tumor board meetings - something I thought I wouldn't get the chance to do until medical school.

I am thankful for the Joedance Cancer Research Fund for their continuing support of pediatric cancer research and for funding my research internship with Atrium Health Levine Children's.

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and memoirs, painting with watercolors, Sudoku, and running where I have a goal to complete a half and full marathon. After graduation in May 2024, I plan on taking a gap year to work as a medical assistant, check things off my bucket list, and apply to medical school. "

01/07/2023

Thank you Cristina Bolling The Charlotte Ledger for this wonderful interview.

Diane Restaino founded the Joedance Film Festival in 2010 in honor of her son's wishes to improve pediatric cancer treatment; 'It was his legacy, and we were just the people that got it done for him'

12/29/2022

Thank you Atrium Health Foundation!

In 2009, in the final months of his life, Joe Restaino sat down with his loved ones to create a Legacy List. At age 20, demonstrating his characteristic loyalty and compassion for others, and wisdom well beyond his years, Joe had found his calling in life. His mission was to raise funds and awarenes...