SPANISH FORT — On Thanksgiving Day 2018, Caroline Berry left this earth, leaving behind her love, kindness, bravery and her desire to bring awareness to childhood cancer.

At the age of 14, Berry was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive sarcoma that targets soft muscle and connective tissues. The teenager and student at Spanish Fort High School would learn one year later the cancer had spread to her brain and was advanced. Throughout her two-year battle with cancer, Berry went through a year of IV chemotherapy, oral chemotherapies, 20 fractions of radiation to multiple sites in her body, cyberknife radiation to the brain, brain radiation therapy and six surgeries.

Despite the challenges, the young girl stood strong, fighting for not only herself, but for other children who experienced childhood cancer.

"She just thought it was so important to educate, advocate and do all that" said Jennifer Berry, the mother of Caroline. "We knew exactly what she wanted us to do when she passed away. She made no bones about it. She wanted to raise money for research and help other families and advocate for childhood cancer."

Berry explained that her daughter was always brave and was not afraid to share her passion for bringing awareness to childhood cancer.

"She went around to all the local schools and spoke and did assemblies at sold out games," she said. "I sit back, and I am just like, wow, how brave for a kid to be able to do that."

The mother recognized the community, noting that during her daughter's battle, everyone stood behind her.

"She never stopped," Berry said. "You know, her passion and everything that she had, she was able to do that."

To carry out the young girl's legacy, Berry started the Berry Strong Foundation.

This 501c3 is dedicated to raising awareness and funds that will go directly towards research that is dedicated to finding a cure for childhood cancers. The foundation is committed to ensuring that there will one day be an end to childhood cancer.

"A lot of people are not really made aware of the lack of funding for childhood cancer," Berry said. "A lot of the treatment protocols are decades old, like from the '70s. New advancements need to be made in all aspects, and there has to be great strides made."

Berry's daughter wanted to create a hero fund through the St. Baldrick's Foundation before she passed away. This foundation is the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants in the United States.

"We were able to meet that and create a hero fund," she said. "Caroline knew about that before she passed away, but then our goal after that was to be able to fully fund a childhood cancer research grant that is named after Caroline."

This year, the BSF was able to do just that; they were able to fully fund the first shot of cancer research grants in honor of the young girl who inspired the establishment of the foundation.

In the last five years, the foundation has raised over $175,000 to go toward childhood cancer research. Not only that, but Berry has traveled to Washington D.C. with St. Baldrick's and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer and helped start the Star Act.

This act was passed in 2018 and allows the National Cancer Institute to help gather and grow samples from kids and young adults diagnosed with cancer. This builds on the existing NCI-supported efforts in collecting and studying biological samples.

"I tell people all the time, doing things locally and going on and speaking and stuff gives me so much anxiety, but for some reason, I can find some strength to go to D.C.," she said.

To continue to bring awareness, Berry and other volunteers travel to local schools across Baldwin County to host events.

Every Thanksgiving, the BSF delivers bags to USA Women's and Children's.

"We (the Berry family) spent two Thanksgivings in the PICU," she said. "We want to provide families with gift cards for groceries, gas and all that stuff. We supply cute little cookie boxes for Thanksgiving and bags full of arts and crafts."

The foundation works directly with child life specialists and social workers to identify families that need assistance with bills, utilities, mortgage, rent and any other needs.

Although the young fighter is no longer present, her mother believes she is still inspiring others.

"She really, truly felt that she was the one that was given cancer for a reason which was to use her platform and her voice," Berry said. "I felt like she just drives us constantly, so I was blessed to be her mother."