By all accounts, Emma Ryleigh Dixon was a light in every room. Full of life, laughter, and an undeniable love for shopping, dancing, and traveling, the Lebanon teen lived with a joy that defied her circumstances. Even as she bravely battled osteosarcoma — a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer — Emma inspired all who knew her with her strength, grace, and signature radiant smile.
Today, Emma’s spirit lives on through The ERDie Project, a non-profit founded in her honor by her parents, Jeni and Charlie Dixon, following Emma’s passing in April 2022 at just 14 years old.
“We moved to Five Oaks in Lebanon in 2020 as a fresh start after what we thought was Emma’s last round of chemotherapy,” shares Jeni, President of The ERDie Project. “Unfortunately, her cancer journey wasn’t over — but the love and support we found in this community have meant everything to us.”
The ERDie Project — lovingly named after Emma’s nickname, “ERDie,” a playful twist on her initials — is driven by a mission both heartfelt and bold: to fund research for pediatric bone sarcomas and to offer financial assistance to families facing similar childhood cancer battles.
Emma’s own journey began in January 2020, when a knee ache after dance class led to a life-changing diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Over the next 27 months, Emma endured aggressive chemotherapy, leg surgery, lung surgeries, a clinical trial, and radiation — all amidst the added challenges of a global pandemic. Through every hurdle, Emma remained determined to simply live life.
“She handled every day with such positivity,” Jeni remembers. “Shopping trips, school days, family vacations — she made the most of every moment.”
Since its founding, The ERDie Project has channeled that same spirit of hope and determination into its work. In September 2024, the organization raised an incredible $130,000 at its second annual Golf Scramble and Gala held at The Club at Five Oaks. This success enabled Jeni and Charlie to present a $100,000 check to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, establishing The Emma Ryleigh Dixon (ERDie Project) Endowment Fund for pediatric bone cancer research. Their ultimate goal? Raising $1 million to fund new, innovative treatments and — one day — a cure.
Adding to Emma’s enduring legacy, the Dixons have most recently pledged an additional $50,000 to the Endowment Fund, bringing their total contribution to $150,000. In a touching tribute, an exam room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital will soon bear Emma’s name — a lasting reminder of her courage and love.
“Emma was a patient at Vanderbilt for 27 months, and their team — especially Dr. Scott Borinstein and Nurse Practitioner Lauren Harrison — became like family to us,” Jeni shares. “They made Emma feel seen, heard, and in control of her care.”
Looking ahead, The ERDie Project continues to dream big. Their cornerstone fundraiser — The ERDie Project Charity Golf Scramble and Gala — returns in September 2025, with tentative dates set for September 21-22. Donations are always welcome year-round at www.theerdieproject.org, with funds directly supporting pediatric bone cancer research and helping families in need.
For Jeni and Charlie, this work is deeply personal. “Our outcome with pediatric osteosarcoma is every parent’s worst fear,” says Jeni. “But we don’t want Emma’s fight to be in vain. Through The ERDie Project, we hope to change the future for other kids like Emma.”
The ERDie Project welcomes anyone to join “ERDie’s Squad” — whether as a donor, volunteer, sponsor, or supporter — in continuing Emma’s beautiful legacy of strength, love, and unbreakable hope.