Prayers From Maria Sunflower Striders

Prayers From Maria was inspired by the prayers of seven-year-old Maria McNamara, who lost her battle against a brain stem glioma in 2007. While Maria was receiving treatment at St. Jude, she prayed for other sick children that she met, hoping the doctors would find a way to help them and make them better. Prayers From Maria, founded by Maria’s parents Ed and Megan McNamara of Avon Lake, Ohio, is dedicated to answering Maria’s prayers by funding global research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for the deadliest childhood brain tumors and bringing hope to children and families who deal with the disease’s hardships. Our Planting Hope sunflower garden in Avon, Ohio, has attracted thousands and elevated awareness and fundraising for childhood brain cancer research. Our most recent $250,000 grant to Case Western Reserve University is funding cutting edge research exploring the use of nanotechnology to more effectively and less toxically treat children’s brain tumors.

Our marathon team, known as the Sunflower Striders, has raised over $100,000 in research dollars by participating in 10 marathons over the past 6 years. Participation in the Cleveland Marathon alone has raised over $65,000. Please support our team by either joining it, or by making a donation.