Cancer fighter · Author · Runway model · Adaptive athlete · Speaker · Age 8

Belle the Brave

Brave is not the absence of fear.
It is showing up anyway.

Hi, I'm Belle! I've been fighting cancer since 2021. I also wrote a book, walked the runway at New York Fashion Week, and I do high kicks everywhere, even at the U.S. Capitol.

Get My Book Follow My Adventures
Belle doing a high kick with her prosthetic leg in front of the U.S. Capitol
kickin' it in D.C.!
Meet Shiny! 
3x
cancer
fighter
Belle in her hospital bed after surgery, holding up a copy of her book
still smiling
Surfing!
Belle surfing with her arms out
my story

Cancer keeps coming back. So do I.

I have alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. I've had chemo, radiation, surgeries and a lot of hospital stays. After rotationplasty I had to learn to walk all over again. So I did. Then I learned to run. And swim, ski, surf, dance and do gymnastics.

"I think I know why it keeps coming back... because I'm so sweet."
Belle
Swimming Skiing Surfing Soccer Aerial Climbing Blade running
My fight so far
1
2021
A lump in my left leg turns out to be cancer.
2
2023
Cancer returns to my leg. Rotationplasty. A prosthetic leg called Shiny. I learn to walk, run, and strut down runways.
3
2025
It comes back in my arm. More chemo, radiation and surgery.
4
2026, right now
Doctors find a mass in my abdomen. I'm fighting again.
Belle holding hands with two younger girls who also wear prosthetic legs
helping my friends
Belle speaking with a microphone to a school assembly
speaking at schools
limb loss community

Mentor, speaker and big sister to the limb loss community

I know what it's like to learn to walk on a prosthetic. Now I guide other kids who are just getting their new legs, little ones and even older boys. With Limb Kind Foundation, I also speak at schools to teach students about limb loss and limb difference.

Mentoring with
Limb Kind Foundation A Step Ahead Prosthetics
watch me walk

Runway of Dreams

I walked the runway at New York Fashion Week with the Runway of Dreams adaptive fashion show. The whole room was cheering.

NYFW Adaptive fashion Adaptive modeling
nothing stops me

Belle in action

Belle smiling on the beach after a swim
beach days
Belle doing a high kick on the field at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Belle on a soccer field in a Soccer For All shirt
soccer for all
Belle hanging upside down on aerial silks, smiling
aerial silks!
Belle from behind in a BELLE denim jacket at Grand Central
Grand Central
Belle's bookshelf

Read my story

The cover of Belle The Brave: The Belle Svoboda Story, written by Erin Chavez and illustrated by Diana O'Brien

Belle The Brave

60 glossy, full-color pages about my biggest challenge yet. With my family and friends beside me, I learn that courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the determination to face it head-on.

Written by Erin Chavez · Illustrated by Diana O'Brien · Art direction by Belle
Belle The Brave book open to an illustrated page
peek inside
Belle signing copies of her book
signing day!
reading to a class!
Belle reading her book Belle The Brave aloud to a classroom
bring Belle to you

A book that helps kids talk about cancer, courage and limb difference

Order Copies
Belle with Harborfields Superintendent Dr. Rory Manning on a school visit
with Superintendent Dr. Manning!

Schools

Classroom copies to help kids understand a classmate going through treatment or living with a prosthetic.

Hospitals

For pediatric oncology units and Child Life teams, so kids facing treatment see someone like them.

Libraries

Add Belle's story to your shelves and story time. Ask about author visits.

Book signings

Invite Belle to your event. Booking again once she's back on her feet after surgery.

Belle's shAUp

I am strong. I am brave. I love me!

Tees, hoodies, hats and beanies for kids and grown-ups, in collaboration with lAUg AUf. 100% of profits go to my family. Local? Pick up in Northport Village.

Shop the Collection
Belle flexing in her gold I am strong t-shirt
so strong!
I am strong, I am brave, I am confident, I love me artwork
100%
to Belle
join Team Belle

Want to help even more?

Belle walking toward a lit-up HOPE sign

Fund the research

Treatments for kids like Belle have barely changed in decades. Every gift goes to the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute's work on new therapies.

Give to cc-TDI
Belle's family holding a Stronger Than U Think sign in Team Belle shirts

Support Belle's family

Belle is facing another round of treatment. Gifts cover treatment costs, travel and daily expenses so her family can focus on Belle.

Donate on GoFundMe
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Cancer fighter · Author · Runway model · Adaptive athlete · Speaker · Age 8

Belle the Brave

Brave is not the absence of fear. It is showing up anyway.
Belle doing a high kick with her prosthetic leg in front of the U.S. Capitol
kickin' it in D.C.!
3x
cancer
fighter
Meet Shiny!

Hi, I'm Belle! I've been fighting cancer since 2021. I also wrote a book, walked the runway at New York Fashion Week, and I do high kicks everywhere, even at the U.S. Capitol.

Get My Book Follow My Adventures
my story

Cancer keeps coming back. So do I.

Belle in her hospital bed after surgery, holding up a copy of her book
still smiling
Belle surfing with her arms out
then surfing!

I have alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. I've had chemo, radiation, surgeries and a lot of hospital stays. After rotationplasty I had to learn to walk all over again. So I did. Then I learned to run. And swim, ski, surf, dance and do gymnastics.

My fight so far
1 · 2021
A lump in my left leg turns out to be cancer.
2 · 2023
Cancer returns to my leg. Rotationplasty. A prosthetic leg called Shiny. I learn to walk, run, and strut down runways.
3 · 2025
It comes back in my arm. More chemo, radiation and surgery.
4 · 2026, right now
Doctors find a mass in my abdomen. I'm fighting again.
"I think I know why it keeps coming back... because I'm so sweet."
Belle
Swimming Skiing Surfing Soccer Aerial Climbing Blade running
limb loss community

Mentor, speaker and big sister to the limb loss community

Belle holding hands with two younger girls who also wear prosthetic legs
helping my friends

I know what it's like to learn to walk on a prosthetic. Now I guide other kids who are just getting their new legs, little ones and even older boys. With Limb Kind Foundation, I also speak at schools to teach students about limb loss and limb difference.

Belle speaking with a microphone to a school assembly
speaking at schools
Mentoring with
Limb Kind Foundation A Step Ahead Prosthetics
watch me walk

Runway of Dreams

I walked the runway at New York Fashion Week with the Runway of Dreams adaptive fashion show. The whole room was cheering.

NYFW Adaptive fashion Adaptive modeling
nothing stops me

Belle in action

Belle smiling on the beach after a swim
beach days
Belle doing a high kick on the field at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Belle on a soccer field in a Soccer For All shirt
soccer for all
Belle hanging upside down on aerial silks, smiling
aerial silks!
Belle's bookshelf

Read my story

The cover of Belle The Brave: The Belle Svoboda Story, written by Erin Chavez and illustrated by Diana O'Brien

Belle The Brave

60 glossy, full-color pages about my biggest challenge yet. With my family and friends beside me, I learn that courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the determination to face it head-on.

Written by Erin Chavez · Illustrated by Diana O'Brien · Art direction by Belle
Buy the Book, $25
Belle The Brave book open to an illustrated page
peek inside
Belle signing copies of her book
signing day!
Belle reading her book Belle The Brave aloud to a classroom
reading to a class!
bring Belle to you

A book that helps kids talk about cancer, courage and limb difference

Belle with Harborfields Superintendent Dr. Rory Manning on a school visit
with Superintendent Dr. Manning!

Schools

Classroom copies to help kids understand a classmate going through treatment or living with a prosthetic.

Hospitals

For pediatric oncology units and Child Life teams, so kids facing treatment see someone like them.

Libraries

Add Belle's story to your shelves and story time. Ask about author visits.

Book signings

Invite Belle to your event. Booking again once she's back on her feet after surgery.

Order Copies
Belle's shAUp

I am strong. I am brave. I love me!

Belle flexing in her gold I am strong t-shirt
so strong!
I am strong, I am brave, I am confident, I love me artwork
100%
to Belle

Tees, hoodies, hats and beanies for kids and grown-ups, in collaboration with lAUg AUf. 100% of profits go to my family. Local? Pick up in Northport Village.

Shop the Collection
join Team Belle

Want to help even more?

Belle walking toward a lit-up HOPE sign

Fund the research

Treatments for kids like Belle have barely changed in decades. Every gift goes to the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute's work on new therapies.

Give to cc-TDI
Belle's family holding a Stronger Than U Think sign in Team Belle shirts

Support Belle's family

Belle is facing another round of treatment. Gifts cover treatment costs, travel and daily expenses so her family can focus on Belle.

Donate on GoFundMe