Riley Vander Esch

In the summer of 2025, Riley was enjoying life as a student at Saint Mary’s University in Winona. She had just moved into a house off campus, adopted a cat named Chili, and was working in the admissions office while preparing for the upcoming hockey season. In July, Riley began experiencing severe headaches that led to an MRI, where doctors discovered two tumors near her brainstem causing dangerous pressure in her brain. After further testing, Riley received the devastating diagnosis of H3K27M CNS-altered Grade 4, a rare and aggressive brain cancer. Riley completed 30 radiation treatments and rang the bell in December. She is now taking a newly approved chemotherapy drug that has shown promise in slowing tumor growth. A junior at Saint Mary’s University, Riley is double majoring in Accounting and Sports Management. Though cancer has taken her away from the ice, Riley continues to inspire everyone around her with her strength, resilience, and determination to keep living life to the fullest.