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What began as a family fight against cancer soon led KU alumna Kim Stanley on a personal journey of hope and advocacy for children’s cancer research.
A native of Omaha, NE, Stanley, c’02, had big dreams of attending The University of Kansas. She played volleyball in high school and received multiple offers from other schools, however, she chose to attend KU as a recruited walk-on for the KU volleyball team. “I was just in love with the idea of being a Jayhawk. It was the best decision I ever made,” Stanley said. “Choosing KU set the tone for me to continue to have big dreams, both in my personal life and in my professional life.” Stanley earned two varsity letters during her two-season stint on the team.
After graduating in 2002 with a degree in Communication Studies, Stanley, whose maiden name is Carlin, married fellow KU student Michael Stanley, c’21, and the two moved to Kansas City. She began her career in sales, and after experience in different industries, transitioned to pharmaceutical and healthcare sales, eventually leading her to sell cancer diagnostic equipment for Ventana Medical Systems under the Roche Group.
The family grew from two to four by welcoming two daughters, Taylor and Callyn, during the 2000s. In 2014, a month shy of her third birthday, Callyn was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer called retinoblastoma. After being recommended to the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, Callyn was treated with a unique therapy called intra-arterial chemotherapy, which delivers targeted chemotherapy right onto the tumor in the eye. “It was, at the time, so surreal to understand the process for how they treated her,” said Stanley, “but it was just the right dose to kill the cancer cells in her eye but leave the rest of her organs untouched.” Thanks to this treatment, Callyn successfully achieved remission.
After Callyn’s health stabilized, Stanley began volunteering with Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer, a Kansas City-based organization whose mission is to create awareness and fund childhood cancer research. “At first, it was just for me to connect with other people and families who knew what we were going through, who understood how difficult it was to take care of a sick child and also manage the financial devastation that comes along with that,” said Stanley.
She quickly fell in love with the mission and vision. As Stanley explains, “all cancers are different. So not all cancers can be treated the same. And it turns out, children’s cancers can’t be treated the same as adult cancers, even if it’s the same name of cancer.” Thinking back to Callyn’s success with targeted chemotherapy, Stanley was inspired to help make those treatments more widely available.
In 2017, after volunteering at a golf tournament that Braden’s Hope was the beneficiary of, Stanley was empowered by Braden’s Hope’s founder Deliece Hofen, to start a new golf tournament. With the help from friends and family, Stanley started Callyn’s Course for Hope. However, one month before the tournament and two years of remission, Callyn’s cancer returned. Stanley recalls Hoften telling her the tournament could be put on pause, “and I said ‘No, this is exactly why we do it,’” said Stanley. The tournament went on to raise $50,000 in that first year. And Callyn once again achieved full remission.
Callyn’s Course for Hope is now an annual event for Braden’s Hope and celebrated its eighth year in 2024. To date, the tournament has raised over one million dollars. “While Callyn is the face of the tournament, she represents all the kids who are fighting,” said Stanley, “we call them cancer heroes.”
After several years of volunteering, Braden’s Hope Board of Directors extended her an offer to join the organization full-time. Now, acting as executive director, she has advanced Braden’s Hope’s mission to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.
“Childhood cancer is the number one killer of children by disease under the age of 18,” said Stanley. “The reason I got involved was because there isn’t enough being done. And Pharmaceutical companies are not making drugs for kids, and it’s not OK,” she continued.
Since its inception in 2010, Braden’s Hope has funded over $5.5 Million dollars in research grants, with a significant portion going to Children’s Mercy, KU Cancer Center and the Stowers Institute. Braden’s Hope relies on volunteers, community partners and sponsorships to further their mission and raise funds through signature fundraisers, like Cally’s Course for Hope, and their largest event, HOPE Gala. The children fighting cancer, affectionately known as cancer heroes, are highly involved in the fundraisers; they serve as emcees, sharing their dreams and hopes onstage and writing personal thank-you notes to donors.
For Stanley, the mission is both personally and professionally fulfilling. While her journey started because of her daughter, her work gives hope to hundreds of children and families. “It feels really good to try and make a difference and impact in the lives of families who endure the most awful circumstances,” she said. “When Callyn was sick, she was doing the physical fighting, but we all fought together, our entire family, and leaned into each other and our community. You do not have to fight alone.”
Part of the Stanley family’s community during those tough years, the people dropping off meals and more, were their lifelong friends made at KU. “My time at KU was such a blessing and continues to show up in my life in the most amazing ways,” she added. The Stanley family has recently been spending more time on KU’s campus, specifically the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena. Taylor, the eldest Stanley daughter, is following in her mother’s footsteps and is committed to play volleyball at KU in 2026. The younger Stanley daughter, Callyn, is now a two-time cancer survivor and a happy and healthy thirteen-year-old.
You can learn more about Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer at www.bradenshope.org.
Montenegro and Croatia
Once we departed from Greece, we set sail to Kotor, Montenegro. We stepped off the ship, engrossed in the beautiful views of rugged peaks mirrored in the bay. Along with our Jayhawk friends, we were whisked away on tuk tuks to explore the town along the Adriatic. We noticed fortified walls we later stepped through to be warped into Kotor’s Old Town. Our young tour guide navigated us along curvy roads past striking views as he entertained us with stories about Kotor’s deep history. We learned about the three sisters who were in love with the same young sailor and saw our guide’s home. Interacting with a local in this capacity was so enjoyable because we got a glimpse of what life looks like in Kotor. We arrived at Porto Montenegro, a secluded portside filled with luxury boutiques, waterside cafes and superyachts. After 30 minutes of speed shopping, we got back on the tuk tuk and took an alternate way back to the ship so that we couldexperience the most sought-after lookout point in Kotor. We followed our tour with a stroll through Old Town, past medieval buildings and charming squares with a freshly baked pastry in hand. The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon took the cake of our time in Kotor!
Our final destination before disembarkation of our ship in Venice was Split, Croatia. As the morning subsided, Split was bustling with energy. Split showed elements of both modern life and Roman ruins. The Riva Promenade couldn’t be missed as we ventured further into the city. The lines of palm trees and benches to rest on and admire the views of the port while savoring Krofnes, fluffy-filled Croatian donuts, were just what we needed after an adventure-filled week. Our favorite details of Split were the hidden courtyards and lively markets.
Our Jayhawks Give Back program is presented in partnership with Andrew Wymore, Senior Realtor with ReeceNichols.
Jayhawks Give Back celebrates ’Hawks who are making a difference in ways big and small. Each quarter, we’ll feature a member of the KU family and their story. If you know a Jayhawk who should be featured in Jayhawks Give Back, let us know!
