Founded by Nora’s parents, Jani Torrence and Brent Bunn, Nora’s Sparkle of Love Project raises funds to support families fighting pediatric cancer and to benefit pediatric brain tumor research. The foundation’s goal, through pillars of education, advocacy, and awareness, is to make sure no other family has to walk the path of DIPG alone—and, eventually, to bring a clinical trial facility to St. Louis, so patients in the Midwest need not travel so far for care.

Nora Kay Bunn, the sister of junior Pat Laffey and Jack Bunn ’18, passed away on Thursday, March 6 at the age of seven after a yearlong fight with a brain tumor. Her funeral took place on Friday, March 14 at Christ the King Catholic Church.

To her friends and family. Nora Bunn is known for many things. “She just is such a lover and cares about everyone else,” says Jani. “But, she can switch the flip and be competitive,” says Brent Bunn, Father of Nora Bunn.  

When Patrick Laffey’s little sister was diagnosed with a deadly form of brain cancer, he had an idea. The junior gathered his teammates and his head coach on Monday to shave their heads in solidarity with six-year-old Nora Bunn, who is losing some of her hair as she undergoes cancer treatment.