Because of Ezra

Ezra the Lion by Hidden Springs Ale Works x Beat Childhood Cancer

As a company whose beverages are nostalgia-inspired, we believe everyone deserves a rich & robust life story, beginning with our childhood. 

That’s why since 2018 we've continued to partner with The Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation (BCCF), a nonprofit working to end childhood cancer. 

Founding member, Kyle Matthews, put BCCF on our radar.

The father of a beautiful boy called Ezra, his son was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer, a rare disease that affects the nerve cells, at 13 months or 400 days old. After fighting bravely for his life for nearly 2 years, Ezra died in 2010 on his 800th day of life.

Ezra's spirit lives on.

To raise awareness of and funds for BCCF, we worked with the Matthews family to make the brand Ezra the Lion.

Beat Childhood Cancer was created by parents like the Matthews who formerly founded and ran unique nonprofits with a shared vision — to end childhood cancer. 

Today, because of passionate leadership from those affected by childhood cancer, people inspired by survivors’ stories, and generous donations, Beat Childhood Cancer is driving patient-affecting childhood cancer clinical trials and expanding how research is done. 

Hidden Springs Ale Works is proud to support Beat Childhood Cancer’s mission to help every child everywhere survive and thrive following a childhood cancer diagnosis and use our platform to raise awareness.  

Ezra David Matthews was born on August 31, 2008 in Florida to proud new parents, Robyn and Kyle Matthews.  

While born perfectly healthy, at the age of 13 months, he was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer. Living in the hospital for exactly half his precious life, this joyous child ferociously fought a form of cancer whose prognosis was bleak. 

Even toddlers can possess inner strength and character, and certainly, Ezra did. Before and after his diagnosis with neuroblastoma cancer, he was the kind of kid his mom Robyn said made "everyone smile.” He loved Elmo, swimming in the pool, Crustables, his dad singing to him, the zoo, and dinosaurs. 

More than just what he loved or a kid fighting a disease, Ezra was also a giving, joyful, thoughtful, kind, and fun human being. 

His parents, Kyle and Robyn, documented their journey with Ezra on a blog called The Matthews’ Story which illuminated their faith and trust in all that was unfolding. With the progression of the cancer, the agony his family felt when he would no longer eat or speak was wisely and painfully expressed by his dad:

Unlike other forms of cancer, neuroblastoma has a high recurrence rate and an often bleak prognosis.

After months of seemingly effective chemotherapy treatments, the Matthews family received the devastating news that Ezra had relapsed.

They spent the following day, Ezra’s 2nd birthday, at the zoo. 

Although they celebrated his birthday with loads of friends and family, by the end of October, Ezra’s condition was deteriorating. He died in the early morning hours of November 8, 2010 with his mom and dad by his side. 

Ezra David Matthews lived 800 days, but he lives on today through all the good work he continues to inspire.

Still want to do more? We invite you to make a direct donation to Beat Childhood Cancer. Click on the link below to make a tax-deductible today!