The Children's Tumor Foundation
11/03/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/04/2025 09:01
Meet Our 2026 National Ambassador: Alexandra Norton
Meet Our 2026 National Ambassador: Alexandra Norton
November 3, 2025Featured, Featured EU, Special Events
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The Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF) will welcome NF patients, families, researchers, and supporters at Gotham Hall in New York City for its annual National Gala on Monday, November 17, 2025. The evening celebrates groundbreaking progress in NF research and honors the leaders making it possible.
A woman standing in front of a pool.This year, CTF is proud to name Alexandra Norton as its 2026 National Ambassador. Drawing on her personal experience living with NF1 and her leadership as the director of the Dallas Cupid's Undie Run event, Alexandra has become a powerful advocate for the NF community, inspiring visibility, engagement, and action nationwide.
Early Life and NF Journey
Diagnosed with an optic glioma just over a year old, Alexandra underwent her first major surgery around age six to debulk the tumor, which couldn't be fully removed because it was wrapped around her opticYoung child smiling and posing in front of a fireplace, wearing a patterned sweater vest, holding yellow pompoms, with Christmas stockings hanging on the mantle. nerve. Another surgery came just before seventh grade-a challenging time for any child trying to fit in.
Guided by her family and faith, Alexandra developed resilience, self-confidence, and a deep sense of purpose. "Just because I have NF doesn't make me less-it makes me as strong as I want to be," she says. These early surgeries, routine checkups, and preventive treatments shaped her childhood, yet her parents emphasized normalcy, ensuring she could explore her interests, build friendships, and embrace her differences.
Commitment to the NF Community
A person wearing a white crop top and red shorts smiles with arms raised, displaying a large medal on a red ribbon in an arcade setting.Alexandra's dedication to the NF community has grown alongside her. She first became involved with CTF through local events in Indianapolis as a child, and in recent years, she has led the Cupid's Undie Run in Dallas as race director. In this role, she combines advocacy, community engagement, and fundraising to inspire others and bring visibility to NF. Her efforts have united people from across the region and, combined with her social media presence, reached people around the world, raising awareness and critical funds for NF research.
One of her favorite memories from Cupid's is of two strangers who wandered into the event at a local bar simply because it looked fun. They won a raffle-and walked away learning about NF for the first time. "That's the whole point," Alexandra says. "To get people to care about something they didn't even know existed."
Looking Ahead as National Ambassador
As National Ambassador, Alexandra will continue to connect with the NF community, both locally and nationwide, sharing her personal journey and advocacy to advance awareness, research, and support. "I want to share my story so others can see the impact of NF and how they can make a difference," she explains.
Her leadership, courage, and tenacity exemplify the qualities CTF celebrates in its honorees. Alexandra's story inspires families, researchers, and supporters to get involved, give, and make a difference. She embodies the hope, strength, and commitment that drive the mission of the Children's Tumor Foundation-and reminds us all of the power of turning lived experience into meaningful action.
The Children's Tumor Foundation published this content on November 03, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 04, 2025 at 15:02 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]