PHILIPSBURG — Philipsburg residents Emily Whitehead and CJ Coudriet will take center stage on Friday, Sept. 25 in Philadelphia as patient “Warrior” emcees at the Emily Whitehead Foundation’s 2026 Believe Ball, a premier international event celebrating the life-saving impact of cell and gene therapies on cancer and rare disease patients and families.
The Emily Whitehead Foundation’s annual Believe Ball brings together patients, caregivers, researchers, physicians, biotechnology leaders and healthcare innovators to celebrate the life-changing impact of advanced therapies while raising support for greater patient access to these groundbreaking treatments.
Emily’s journey began at just five years old, when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer that has an 85-90% chance of being cured. After relapsing twice and exhausting standard treatment options, Emily was recommended hospice care. Refusing to give up hope, her parents, Tom and Kari Whitehead, searched for another option and discovered an experimental CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Emily became the first child in the world to receive CAR T-cell therapy. The clinical trial was her only remaining chance for survival, and it worked. Her treatment in 2012 became a defining moment in cancer care, helping pave the way for more than 50,000 patients worldwide to receive advanced therapy treatments like CAR T-cell therapy. Today, Emily is 21 years old and cancer-free. This fall, she began her senior year at University of Pennsylvania where she is majoring in English with a focus in creative writing.
Emily’s journey inspired her parents to create the Emily Whitehead Foundation, a non-profit organization that has grown into the leading voice of the patient for advanced therapies. With a global network of scientists, industry collaborators, and generous contributors, the Emily Whitehead Foundation is driven to turn Emily’s survivor story into countless more survivor stories.
Coudriet’s cancer journey began two weeks before his 13th birthday when he was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that develops in soft tissue. His treatment included 43 weeks of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation and more than 100 days in the hospital. After reaching remission in 2024, Coudriet learned in March 2026 that his original tumor had begun growing again.
Now 16, Coudriet remains in treatment following additional chemotherapy and a 12-hour surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in June. His family continues to follow emerging T-cell therapies, immunotherapies and clinical trials that could become future treatment options. Outside of treatment, Coudriet founded Uplifting Outdoors, which provides outdoor experiences for young people living with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses and wounded combat veterans.
Set in Philadelphia where Emily became the first child in the world to be saved by CAR T-cell therapy, the Emily Whitehead Foundation’s annual Believe Ball is an evening of hope, impact and progress. In addition to connecting people who work in biotech, pharmaceuticals and healthcare with cancer and rare disease patients and families they are helping, the gala features:
- Stories of Hope – Lived experiences shared by patients and families
- Embassador Awards – Presentation of the Foundation’s Bill Ludwig Pioneer Award and Thomas G. Whitehead Beacon of Hope Award
- The Nicole Gularte Fight for Cures Grant – Presentation of an annual grant to fund advanced therapies and patient support research
- Celebration – Dinner, entertainment, a silent auction and “Activation Stations” featuring fun, interactive activities for guests of all ages
Thanks to Believe Ball title sponsor Novartis and other partners, the Emily Whitehead Foundation is growing its support for patients and caregivers affected by cancer and rare diseases, and advocacy for all patients who can be treated with advanced therapies. Believe Ball sponsorships are still available, and all contributions support the realization of the foundation’s mission to activate cures so countless more individuals like Emily Whitehead can survive and thrive.
