09/01/2026
💛 Why We Walk: For Lucas, and for Every Child Fighting Cancer🎗️
Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children in the United States. Each year, more than 15,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. — and over 400,000 children worldwide — hear the words “you have cancer.” For families facing a rare and aggressive diagnosis like DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), the fight is even harder — it’s one of the toughest childhood cancers there is.
Our family knows this fight personally. In August 2024, Dr. Ticola’s nephew Lucas — known to everyone who loved him as “Mighty Robot Tiger Lucas” — was diagnosed with DIPG. He fought like a superhero. On December 16, 2025, Lucas laid down his sword.
Lucas was a patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and our family saw firsthand the incredible, whole-child care St. Jude gives every family who walks through their doors.
Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% — and for the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, survival is now over 90%. St. Jude freely shares every discovery it makes, so doctors and researchers worldwide can use that knowledge to save more children.
And no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude — for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Just the chance to focus on their child.
This September, in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and in memory of Lucas, Little Critters Pediatric Dentistry has joined the St. Jude Walk in Huntsville. Look for our sponsor letter “L” along the route! 🔤
Will you help us reach our goal? 💙
📍 St. Jude Walk Huntsville — Saturday, September 26, 2026
🔍 Search team: Little Critters Pediatric Dentistry
📱 Scan the QR code (link in bio) to donate
