Why I Ride ...
Team Haley-Cairns Brain Tumor Research Fund
Our team will be raising money for the Haley-Cairns Brain Tumor Research Fund at Dana-Farber. This was established by Julie Haley Cairns' family to help raise much needed money for brain tumor research. This journey began for us when Julie, a mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, family member. and co-worker was diagnosed in November 2005 with a level III-Anaplastic Astrocytoma; an inoperable and incurable form of brain cancer. She has gone through radiation and chemo, and at this time the tumor is stable but not gone. There are no other treatment options for her at this time.
Though cancer of the brain and central nervous system (CNS) accounts for only 1.5 percent of the new cases in the U.S. each year, the majority of CNS tumors are malignant, resulting in high mortality rates. Brain tumors are also genetically diverse, making them resistant to conventional treatment and requiring a personalized approach to therapy. Tailoring treatment to each tumor's unique genetic profile will provide the only opportunity for a cure for the most with this type of cancer.
With support from the Haley-Cairns fund, Julie's doctor, Patrick Wen, MD, is leading a multidisciplinary effort to launch a tumor genotyping project that aims to identify the genetic mutations that drive brain tumors. Patient tumors will be genetically profiled for their molecular characteristics and vulnerabilities, and the generated data will be used to steer patients toward clinical trials with therapeutics targeted to their individual tumors. This will hopefully provide the only opportunity for a cure for the most with this type of cancer.
Our team will be also be riding in honor of Julie's sister, Katie Canning, who is currently fighting her own battle with breast cancer.
We thank you for your support.
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