A father's heartbreaking journey turned into an unexpected cryptocurrency success story has raised millions for pediatric brain tumor research.
Siqi Chen, founder of Runway, launched this remarkable fundraising effort after his 4-year-old daughter Mira was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, a rare brain tumor, in September 2024. Though benign, the tumor's location in a critical area of Mira's brain required surgery. Following successful treatment, Chen decided to channel support toward helping other children facing similar diagnoses.
The campaign took an unexpected turn when a social media user named Waddles created MIRA, a meme coin on the Solana blockchain, dedicating half the supply to Chen. Rather than keeping the proceeds, Chen committed to donating 100% to brain tumor research.
"Every dollar gained goes directly to research," Chen emphasized while implementing a measured approach of selling 1% of holdings daily with full transparency through online updates.
The crypto community rallied behind the cause, driving MIRA's market capitalization beyond $80 million, with trading volumes exceeding $100 million according to GeckoTerminal data. This overwhelming response enabled Chen to direct $14 million toward rare disease research.
While the campaign faced challenges, including the appearance of fraudulent tokens using Chen's family photos, MIRA's success demonstrates the potential of cryptocurrency for philanthropic causes. The project has become a prime example of how digital assets can unite communities for meaningful social impact.
Through this innovative approach to fundraising, Chen has transformed his family's difficult experience into a powerful force for advancing medical research, proving that meme coins can serve a greater purpose beyond speculation.