Travis' Story
A Journey of Resilience Against Impossible Odds
Travis Reinhold is no stranger to adversity—or to fighting for his life.
In 2007, at just 35 years old, Travis was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor: an oligodendroglioma mixed with astrocytoma, in 2021 the cancer returned, this time the diagnosis was an anaplastic astrocytoma. With a devoted wife and three young children at home, he began a battle that would reshape every aspect of his life. What followed were two awake craniotomies, 24 months of chemotherapy, and 30 rounds of radiation. Through it all, Travis remained resilient. He refused to give up.
This is also a story about family—because he hasn’t walked this road alone. His wife has been his rock, holding their family together when everything seemed to be falling apart. His children—his motivation and strength—have grown up watching him fight, and he is determined to be here for their future. He dreams of walking his daughter down the aisle, seeing his sons get married, and holding his grandchildren one day. These are the moments he refuses to miss.
For nearly 15 years, Travis’s MRI scans were clear. It appeared he had beaten the odds. But in 2021, the cancer returned. He faced another grueling surgery, 30 more rounds of radiation, and a year-long course of chemotherapy. And yet again—he fought.
But Travis’s journey is not just about him. It reflects the battle faced by thousands of individuals each year. Roughly 33 people are diagnosed with brain cancer every day—13 of them children. The five-year survival rate remains a daunting 33%. Travis wants to change that.
To bring awareness and support to the fight against pediatric brain cancer, Travis has launched Looping for a Cure—a nationwide awareness and fundraising mission.
Through Looping for a Cure, Travis is transforming his journey into something bigger than the miles traveled. Funds raised through the campaign will help support its mission and nonprofit partners, including efforts to grant wishes, create meaningful experiences for children and families, and support those impacted by cancer.
When the Battle Chooses You, Strength Comes From Those You Love
As part of the mission, Travis will take on the Great Loop as an extraordinary test of endurance and determination. He will use the journey to inspire others, raise awareness, and rally communities around children and families facing cancer.
The Great Loop is a 6,000-mile boating route through America’s waterways. Starting and ending at the St. Johns River near his Florida home, he’ll be joined in stages by his closest friends and family—the same team who stood by him through every treatment and surgery. Together, they’ll document the journey, share their stories, and spotlight the courage it takes not just to survive, but to truly live.
This effort is about breaking silence, challenging statistics, and restoring hope. Travis’s wife and children remain the heartbeat of his mission, and he fights not only for the future he dreams of with them, but for every child and parent still in the battle.
And Travis has been fighting his entire life. At 14, a scuba diving accident caused a cerebral air embolism, leaving him paralyzed in all four limbs for 20 minutes. At 16, he was hit head-on by a drunk driver in a crash that killed four teenagers; he was airlifted to the hospital and has endured over 65 hours of reconstructive surgery. At 38, he underwent emergency back surgery after a jet ski accident. And at 40, he battled a life-threatening lung infection at Mayo Clinic, treated with some of the strongest antibiotics available.
Every experience has shaped him—but none have broken him. And now, with purpose, passion, and a team that has never left his side, Travis is looping for a cure—because giving up has never been an option.
