BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Next Step Fund, Inc. - ECPv6.17.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Next Step Fund, Inc. X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Next Step Fund, Inc. REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260420 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260421 DTSTAMP:20260402T182136Z CREATED:20250924T174306Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T182136Z UID:11392-1776643200-1776729599@www.nextstepnet.org SUMMARY:Support our Boston Marathon team! DESCRIPTION:Team Next Step is back to run the historic Boston Marathon! This year we have five amazing athletes running the 130th Boston Marathon on Sunday\, August 20th. Their support will help us welcome even more seriously ill young people into the Next Step community where they will make new friends\, set goals with mentors\, and create a sense of self beyond their diagnosis. Please join the team and donate any amount to one of our runners or to the entire team in the link below. \nDonate Now \nThank you Adam Farkes\, Daniel J Kim\, Michael Loban\, Lexi Minicucci and Cameron Ritz for volunteering your time and for all of your hard work in supporting our mission. You truly are changing lives. A special thank you to the Bank of America Marathon Official Charity Program for welcoming us back for another year. We are so grateful for your partnership in this important work. \nQUESTIONS? \nContact Lindsey Dacey\, Next Step Development Director\, if you have any questions about supporting Team Next Step: lindsey@nextstepnet.org URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org/event/supportourbostonmarathonteam/ CATEGORIES:Fundraising ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.nextstepnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lexi2-copy.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T190000 DTSTAMP:20260305T203340Z CREATED:20260115T221953Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T203340Z UID:11647-1773333000-1773342000@www.nextstepnet.org SUMMARY:Next Step Comic Book Celebration & Art Exhibition DESCRIPTION:Join Next Step on Thursday\, March 12\, 2026\, from 4:30pm to 7pm EST at LabCentral in Cambridge\, MA for an unforgettable evening celebrating the first public exhibition of our two comic books\, When Lightning Strikes\, featuring the journey of Kara\, a young superhero living with sickle cell disease. This event is free to join. \nRegister Here \nExperience a vibrant gallery exhibition\, an inspiring panel discussion\, and connect with the creative minds behind the project. Enjoy delicious snacks and drinks while learning how teens living with sickle cell disease harnessed creativity and community to navigate the transition from pediatric care to adult care. Plus\, don’t miss the chance to meet former Patriots Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty\, who will be joining us at the event! \n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n  \nWe are so fortunate to be joined by guest panelist\, Dr. Sharl Azar\, a nationally recognized hematologist and advocate serving as Medical Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Center and the Robert K. Kraft Chair of Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. \nRegister Here \nQUESTIONS? \nEmail Alice Sich\, Next Step Events and Operations Coordinator\, if you have any questions about this event at alice@nextstepnet.org. \n  \nLOCATION & PARKING \nLabCentral \n700 Main Street \nCambridge\, MA 02139 \nRecommended parking options for this event are\, Osborne Triangle\, which is adjacent to LabCentral\, Tech Square Garage\, and then metered parking on the street. \nRead our comic books URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org/event/next-step-comic-book-celebration-art-exhibition/ LOCATION:LabCentral\, 700 Main Street\, Cambridge\, 02139\, United States CATEGORIES:Fundraising ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.nextstepnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Hero-Image-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251209 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260115 DTSTAMP:20251209T170803Z CREATED:20251209T170048Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T170803Z UID:11515-1765238400-1768435199@www.nextstepnet.org SUMMARY:2025-2026 Next Step Annual Fund DESCRIPTION:Every great journey starts with a question: What is possible? For teens and young adults living with serious chronic illnesses\, that question can feel out of reach. Diagnoses like cancer\, sickle cell disease\, and HIV often overshadow their dreams and potential. \nEach year\, thousands of teens transition out of pediatric care\, losing support systems they relied on. For nearly 25 years\, Next Step has helped to empower these young people to break through these barriers-helping them discover their strength\, find a community\, and pursue meaningful goals. \nGive the gift of possibility \nJamall\, a young man with sickle cell disease\, was experiencing these same troubles. His diagnosis was clouding his vision of the future. He was looking for something\, and thankfully he found Next Step. As a result\, Jamall found a community\, an environment where he felt comfortable chasing his passions and seeing a future full of possibilities. \n“Before Next Step\, I never met anyone my age who lives with sickle cell. Meeting peers who get it—that was the moment I finally felt seen.” \nJAMALL\, NEXT STEP PARTICIPANT \nNow is the time to act.  Your support last year has made a real difference for young people living with serious illness. Join us again today in transforming “Why me?” into “What’s next?” for even more young people like Jamall. Please include Next Step in your end-of-year giving plan and become a catalyst for change. \nYour gift isn’t just a donation—it’s a lifeline.  Give today. Empower tomorrow.  \nBest wishes\, \nBill Kubicek\, Executive Director & Founder\, Next Step \nGive the gift of possibility \n\nYOUR IMPACT \n$100 – Provides food for an in-person group program \n$250 – Provides a studio recording session in Song Studio \n$500 – Enables 15 seriously ill young people to attend a life skills workshop \n$1\,000 – Provides a group songwriting session for eight participants \n$1\,500 – Provides a year of Next Step STRIVE and academic tutoring and mentoring for one participant \n$2\,500 – Enables a seriously ill young person to attend a 4-day Campference \n$5\,000 – Provides a full year of programming for one participant. URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org/event/2025-2026-next-step-annual-fund/ CATEGORIES:Fundraising ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.nextstepnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jamall-website-selfie.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250817T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250817T120000 DTSTAMP:20250807T162006Z CREATED:20240906T184348Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250807T162006Z UID:10354-1755421200-1755432000@www.nextstepnet.org SUMMARY:2025 ASICS Falmouth Road Race DESCRIPTION:We have 13 amazing volunteers on our 2025 Falmouth Road Race team this year. Each athlete on Team Next Step has trained all summer for the race on Sunday\, August 17th in Falmouth\, MA. They are ready to conquer the 7-mile race in support of our community\, music and mentorship programs for seriously ill young people. Will you help them cross their fundraising finish line? $5\, $50\, $500. Every dollar counts. Thank you for being part of the team! CLICK HERE to donate to one runner or the whole team. \n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n\n \nYour Impact \nWatch seriously ill young people describe their Next Step experience. You’re changing lives. \nQuestions? \nEmail Namrata Gupta\, Next Step Development Director\, if you have questions about joining our 2025 Falmouth Road Race: At-Home Edition team at namrata@nextstepnet.org. \n\n\n \n \n 2025 ASICS Falmouth Road Race: At-Home Edition Application\n Please fill out the form below if you are ready to join Team Next Step. \n \n Name(Required)\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Phone(Required)Email(Required)\n \n Address(Required) \n \n \n \n Street Address\n \n \n Address Line 2\n \n \n City\n \n \n State / Province / Region\n \n AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire\, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo\, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea\, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea\, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine\, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena\, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania\, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands\, BritishVirgin Islands\, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands\n Country\n \n \n Date of Birth(Required)\n \n \n \n \n \n Runner Release Waiver and Fundraising Agreement(Required)\n \n I will follow the rules and regulations of the road race event.\n \n \n I will release the road race event organizers for any responsibility in case of an accident\, illness or injury.\n \n \n I acknowledge that this road race requires physical activity and there are possible risk and danger.\n \n \n I allow my photo to be taken during the event and used for event advertising and marketing.\n Select AllRunner signature(Required)\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Submit \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Δ URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org/event/2025-falmouth-road-race/ CATEGORIES:Fundraising ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.nextstepnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Falmouth-2024.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250510T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250510T180000 DTSTAMP:20250430T160831Z CREATED:20250425T135408Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T160831Z UID:11036-1746892800-1746900000@www.nextstepnet.org SUMMARY:PorchFest Somerville 2025 DESCRIPTION:Next Step is participating in PorchFest Somerville 2025 and you’re invited! Join us on Saturday\, May 10th from 4pm to 6pm in Somerville\, MA for a feel-good afternoon of live music\, community connection\, and inspiration. \nEmail Alice Sich\, Next Step Events and Operations Coordinator\, to RSVP: alice@nextstepnet.org \nWhether you’re dropping by to enjoy some tunes\, meet new people in your community\,  or learn about our powerful work with teens and young adults living with a serious chronic illness — this is your moment to plug into something meaningful (and seriously fun). \nBring your friends\, your curiosity\, and your love for great music — we can’t wait to meet you and share what Next Step is all about. \n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n\n \n  \nWhat’s Happening on Our Porch \nLive music from amazing music therapists \nA peek into our free programs that empower young people to create their brightest future \nFun\, welcoming vibes that capture the PorchFest spirit \n  \nAddress \n8 Calvin Street\, Somerville\, MA 02143 \nClick here to see address on Google Maps. URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org/event/porchfest-somerville-2025/ CATEGORIES:Cancer,Fundraising,HIV,Program,Rare Genetic Disorder,Sickle Cell ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.nextstepnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Porchfest-photo.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250421 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250422 DTSTAMP:20250225T220523Z CREATED:20241004T172636Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T220523Z UID:10498-1745193600-1745279999@www.nextstepnet.org SUMMARY:Support our Boston Marathon team DESCRIPTION:Team Next Step is running the Boston Marathon for an 11th time! Five amazing athletes have volunteered to run the 26.2 mile race for Next Step and raise important funds to support our community\, music and mentorship programs for seriously ill teens and young adults between the ages of 13-29. Their goal is to raise $65\,000 as a team. The money raised will help us empower even more deserving young people to create their brightest future as they transition to adulthood. Please help our runners cross their fundraising finish line before Marathon Monday! \nClick here to donate to our 2025 Boston Marathon team. \nThank you to the Bank of America Marathon Charity Program for welcoming us back to run this historic race! We are proud to be an official charity team of this wonderful program. \n  \n  URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org/event/run-the-2025-boston-marathon/ CATEGORIES:Fundraising ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.nextstepnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/NextStep_LogoNoTag_Vertical_Web.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR