Our Mission & Promise
The TaterTough Foundation was started to honor our son and brother, Tate, and our commitment to keep the promises we made to him. The promise to defeat the monster that is DIPG so that no other child would have to fight the fight he did. And the promise to support, take care of and uplift families just like so many took care of us. The goal of TaterTough is to financially support pediatric cancer patients of DIPG and other cancers, their families, and foundations and organizations that work to improve their quality of life and medical care.
Tate lived life with a spirit, dignity, and smile that taught us and so many that odds are meant to be overcome and we do not have to be defined by the challenges and situations that are put in front of us. If you were blessed to know Tate, you know what he meant to you and for those that were not able to meet him in person we hope that be being a part of our mission you understand who he was and how he continues to impact so many. Your support of TaterTough will help us continue to fund research, building and support our cancer communities, live by Tate’s example and inspire everyone to live TaterTough.
Tate's Story
Tate entered this world full of laughter, compassion, spirit, and always smiling and that never changed, even when he was faced with fighting the monster that is DIPG.
Growing up Tate was a very athletic kid who excelled in basketball, baseball, golf and football. He loved the Williamsburg Raiders and could not wait to be a part of the teams he grew up watching and idolizing. He was a huge Iowa Hawkeyes and Cubs fan. He could be found any game day in front of the TV or watching passionately in person with his competitive spirit. Sports meant so much to Tate beyond a win or a loss. It allowed him to find people he idolized and looked up too, create lifelong friendships, and provide him an outlet to truly be himself.
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So when cancer decided to challenge him, Tate took that competitive fight and battled with everything he had…just like he did on the basketball court, baseball field, golf course and anywhere else he faced a challenge. He choose to compete in his battle against cancer just like he had competed in so many other ways. One of Tate’s favorite people in the world taught him a motto to live by "Win The Day". Each day your attitude and effort are really the only two things you can control in your life. Tate chose to live by this motto and it became a source of strength for him.
What is "Nobody Better"?
This isn’t a phrase that means you are better than anyone else or that you deserve to win. Nobody Better is something that we want you all to tell yourself in moments that you are faced with a challenge that might seem like it is more than you can handle or you can’t do. In that moment, we want you to tell yourself that there is nobody better right now to take on that challenge and succeed. Anytime that Tate had a scary procedure or was faced with a physical challenge that was so hard for him, we would remind him that right there in that moment there was Nobody Better to face that challenge and try and overcome it.