about KOASTRONG
Our MOTIVATION & DRIVE is to perpetuate the spirit, love, character and life of Kekoa "Koa" Reece Malulanimekealoha Pagán who died after his brief battle against leukemia at the tender age of 8 years old.
Our GOAL is that children and families not experience childhood cancer.
Our VISION is a world without childhood cancer.
We HONOR Koa's memory and legacy to find answers and bring hope to future generations.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS:
-
KoaStrong Comfort Program provides a unique canine interaction for children battling cancer.
-
Baseball Skills Camp to connect with local community and Koa's friends.
-
KoaStrong Fishing Series
a world without cancer must begin with the prevention of childhood cancer
learn more about childhood cancer
Understanding the Urgency of Childhood & AYA Cancer Prevention
-
Unlike adult cancers, there are currently no standardized screening programs for childhood cancers, making early detection nearly impossible.
-
Though relatively rare compared to adult disease, the incidence of childhood and adolescent/young-adult (AYA) cancers continues to tick upward. Studies show overall pediatric cancer rates increased about 0.5% annually from 2003-2019 in the U.S.
-
In the U.S. in 2024, it is estimated that 14,910 children and adolescents (ages 0-19) will be diagnosed with cancer.
-
The causes of most childhood and AYA cancers remain poorly understood — reinforcing the need for focused research on prevention, early-detection biomarkers, and risk-factor identification.
-
Advances in treatment have improved survival, but many survivors face lifelong side-effects — and certain childhood cancers remain incurable.
-
Over the past 30 years, only six drugs have been approved exclusively for childhood cancers — highlighting a stark disparity in innovation and investment.
-
Though outcomes have improved, for many types of childhood/AYA cancers prognosis remains poor and progress is uneven.
-
For families, the impact is immediate and profound: in the U.S., every 28 minutes, a child or adolescent is diagnosed with cancer — a life forever changed by the words, “your child has cancer."
Our Focus: Prevention, Early Detection, Research
At KoaStrong we believe that preventing cancer in children before diagnosis is not only possible — it’s imperative. By shifting the focus upstream from treatment to proactive action, we are working to reduce the burden of childhood and AYA cancers through science, public policy, family education, and community engagement.
change is necessary
our values
courage
We vow to be courageous as a grassroots foundation in the attack against childhood cancer. We do this on behalf of the many children and families that have been forever and deeply affected by childhood cancer.
determination
We commit with determination in every step forward toward our ultimate mission to end childhood cancer through funding the research that has not yet been done to uncover the causes of why a healthy child gets cancer.
transparency
We will act with transparency in our decisions and communications to ensure honest and open interactions in our commitment to fund research that focuses on cause and prevention of childhood cancer.
Our Team
Collaboration and passion are the spirit of the KOASTRONG organization. Our team has a dream and a vision of a world without childhood cancers.
LISA PAGÁN
Founder,
Executive Director
"What inspires me is the possibility of learning that what we do know now is not all there is to know about childhood cancer."
KANOA PAGÁN
Ambassador
Koaʻs older brother
"I am passionate about childhood cancer prevention because it is an under researched area as most funding and attention goes towards patient care. Finding the root cause needs to be prioritized. Our foundation, Koastrong, is different because we seek out the why, we want to put our efforts toward screening, early detection and ultimately finding an answer and implementing solutions as to why childhood cancer is on the rise."
craig alvarado
Development Director
Kai Pagán
Event Coordinator
Kale Pagán
Development
“Having lost a childhood friend to sarcoma and a little brother to Leukemia, I strongly believe in maximizing efforts towards finding out why healthy children get cancer and how we can prevent it.”
Meghan Schroeder
Ambassador
SYDNEY
ALVARADo, MSN, RN
Medical Advisory Board
"I am inspired by the bravery and resilience of children with cancer. It excites me to be apart of an organization that prioritizes cancer prevention and screening, while giving families hope and honoring my cousin Koa."