At Cor Jesu Academy, students are not just encouraged to lead, they are empowered to make a difference. For three alumnae, Erin Drummond '20, Sofia Ortiz '21 and Sarah Robinson '22, this mission took on a deeply personal meaning as they dedicated themselves to fighting for children battling cancer. Together, they are the heart and soul behind Mizzou MoreThan4, an organization that raises awareness, advocates for legislative change and provides support for families enduring the unimaginable.

Some moments in life leave an indelible mark on the soul. For Erin Drummond, that moment came in June 2014 when her three-year-old sister, Julia, and her eleven-year-old friend, Brett, were both diagnosed with cancer. The news shattered her world. “I was suddenly surrounded by kids my own age and younger who were suffering, fighting for their lives,” she recalls. While Julia survived, Brett did not. The pain of losing a friend so young was searing, and Erin’s family found themselves attending funeral after funeral of children who should still be here today.

“Even the kids who survive childhood cancer face a lifetime of side effects, some so debilitating they never get to truly live the life they fought so hard for,” Erin shares. “I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.” What began as a personal heartache grew into a passion. Erin started advocating on her own before finding the courage to turn that passion into action. She founded MoreThan4 at Mizzou, determined to change the landscape of pediatric cancer treatment and awareness.

Starting an organization from scratch is daunting. But for Erin, it was fueled by an unrelenting need to honor the kids she had met along the way, those who had fought and those who had lost their fight. She recruited her friends, including fellow Cor Jesu alumnae Sofia and Sarah, to help bring her vision to life. “In the beginning, it was just a small group of us brainstorming ways to help,” Erin says. “But we had a fire inside of us, and that fire kept growing.”

The name MoreThan4 stems from the heartbreaking reality that childhood cancer research receives less than 4% of federal cancer research funding. It was a number that haunted Erin. “How can we tell these kids that their lives only matter 4%?” she asks. Determined to do more, MoreThan4 members have since helped double that percentage to nearly 8%. But as Sofia reminds us, “That’s still not enough. These kids deserve so much more.”

MoreThan4 is not just about awareness, it’s about action. Every year, members travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers and push for critical changes in pediatric cancer funding. “Walking through the halls of Congress, knowing we were there for these kids, was overwhelming,” Sofia shares. “We told their stories. We handed legislators pictures of real children, children who should still be here. We made sure they couldn’t look away.”

Sarah was deeply moved by her first experience at Action Days, a two-day event where supporters advocate for important childhood cancer issues before Congress. She describes the weight of their mission, “It’s not just about numbers or policies, it’s about kids whose lives depend on these decisions. And when you see a mother’s eyes filled with both hope and exhaustion, you know you can’t stop fighting.”

Since its founding, MoreThan4 has grown beyond what Erin ever imagined. What started as a small student organization now has over 300 members at Mizzou, with plans to expand to SLU and beyond. The group has become an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit and continues to sponsor families in need, ensuring they don’t have to navigate their child’s illness alone.

One of their most moving initiatives was the Necessities Drive, where they collected items for a widowed mother struggling to care for her children during her son’s cancer treatments. “The response was overwhelming,” Sarah recalls. “People donated everything, from clothes to new pillows to gift cards for groceries. It was humanity at its best.”

Each of these three alumnae credits Cor Jesu for shaping their ability to lead and serve. Erin recalls a simple yet life-changing theology assignment in which she wrote to Congresswoman Ann Wagner ’80 about the MoreThan4 movement. A year later, Wagner responded, saying she had been inspired to join the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus. “It was the first moment I realized that one voice really can make a difference,” Erin says.

Sofia also found inspiration in her Cor Jesu science teacher, Mrs. Rita Ryan. “She always told us, ‘We are they.’ We are the ones who will fix the problems of the world,” Sofia remembers. “I took those words to heart.”

Beyond individual assignments and encouragement from teachers, the spirit of service that Cor Jesu instills in its students played a crucial role in shaping their advocacy. The school’s commitment to developing young women as compassionate leaders gave Erin, Sofia and Sarah the confidence to turn their passion into tangible change. From theology classes that emphasized social justice to extracurricular opportunities that reinforced the importance of community involvement, Cor Jesu provided the foundation that made MoreThan4 possible.

“Cor Jesu not only prepared us academically but instilled in us the values of empathy, resilience and courage,” Sarah shares. “We were taught that our voices matter and that we have a responsibility to use them for good. MoreThan4 is a direct reflection of the lessons we learned at Cor Jesu.” 

For those in the Cor Jesu community looking to help, there are many ways to get involved. Alumnae can start or join chapters at their universities. And everyone, no matter their age, can participate in blood drives, donate or simply spread awareness.

“We have seen firsthand how small actions can lead to incredible change,” Sarah says. “If you can even help one person, you’ve already made a difference.” For Erin, Sofia and Sarah, this is not just a cause, it’s a calling. It’s a promise to every child fighting cancer that they are seen, they are valued and they are more than 4%.