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[ INPHILANTHROPY ]

An Ace Cancer-Fighter
Student-athlete serves up a win against the disease

by Jeffrey Javier

ia Mason knows what it’s like to Today, Mia Mason is a junior in the UA School of
Movercome adversity. Theatre, Film and Television and still plays for the
At age 12, she was diagnosed with Sandcats.
ependymoma, an extremely rare form of brain They established Her father, Grammy Award-winning producer
cancer. With support from family, medical the Mia Mason Harvey Mason Jr., and mother, a former UA indoor
treatment and determination, Mason was able Fund for volleyball player, are both alumni.
to beat the disease. “I grew up around my dad’s music business, and
Fast forward to 2016, and she is on the Immunotherapy I played volleyball with my mom,” Mia Mason says.
biggest stage of her life playing for the Research to “Even though I live in California, Tucson is my
University of Arizona in the inaugural NCAA second home and the UA was a natural fit for me.”
Beach Volleyball Championship in Gulf Shores, support ongoing Jeannine Mason says she’s proud of her daughter
Alabama. Behind in the third set, Mason and efforts to cure and her roles as an advocate for pediatric cancer
her best friend, Kalei Mau, rallied. At game research and an inspiration for children living with
point, Mason served an ace and won. the disease at the the disease. Earlier this year, they established the
For Mason and her mother Jeannine Mia Mason Fund for Immunotherapy Research to
Mason, the victory was an emphatic period at Steele Children’s support ongoing efforts to cure the disease at the
the end of a difficult journey. Research Center. UA Steele Children’s Research Center.
“To be at that moment after everything “The doctors and researchers at the UA Steele
we had been through — it was incredible,” Center are doing amazing work,” Mia Mason says.
Jeannine Mason says. “It was so inspiring to all “Supporting them will help make a difference in
her teammates and friends who knew what she the lives of children and their families.”
had experienced.”

Learn more and give at
peds.arizona.edu/steele/mia-mason

Mia, seated, and Jeannine Mason / Dominic Bonuccelli photo

18 ARIZONA ALUMNI MAGAZINE