Age: 15
Hometown: Vancouver, WA
Diagnosis: Osteosarcoma
Shoe: ACG Rufus
June 11th, 2025, is a big day for Charlye Cosgrove — it’s the day she rang the bell at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital after completing treatment for bone cancer. Her journey began the previous year when she started having trouble lifting her arm. Tests revealed bone cancer. To save Charlye’s life, doctors would have to amputate her arm.
Prior to surgery, Charlye underwent two rounds of intense chemotherapy to shrink her tumor. But here’s where the story takes an incredible turn. “My doctors had hoped to see the tumor 60% smaller, which would have been a best-case scenario,” said Charlye. “Mine had shrunk by 95%, which they’ve never seen before. They said I’m a miracle kid.”
Instead of amputation, Charlye underwent a complex surgery to remove the affected bone and is now considered cancer-free. That means she can get back to doing the things she loves, like spending time in nature and hanging out at the pool with her friends.
A Pacific Northwest girl at heart, Charlye designed her shoe around her love of the great outdoors. Fuzzy green accents emulate moss, and the camo print is inspired by the pink camo slip-on shoes she first wore as a baby. But the real magic happens in the sunshine, when the UV-activated upper reveals verdant green leaves.
Charlye hid a few surprises in her design too. Under the tag on the upper, you’ll find the date she rang the cancer bell. And tucked inside the shoe, the golden childhood cancer ribbon is surrounded by powerful words of encouragement, including BE FEARLESS.
“I’m not afraid of anything anymore,” smiled Charlye. “Like my grandma used to say, ‘What are they going to do, take away your birthday?’”
To thank her medical team for saving her life, Charlye plans to pay it forward by becoming a traveling oncology nurse. In the meantime, Charlye is already giving back by launching her very own nonprofit: the Cheering for Charlye Foundation. “We collect donations like stuffed animals and provide care packages for children and families going through cancer,” said Charlye. “It’s the least I can do after all the amazing care I received.”
