Help Daniel raise money

Dubbed “the terminator” of cancers, glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM, is a fast-growing and extremely aggressive type of malignant brain tumor. The median survival time of a person after diagnosis is just 12-15 months and the disease's five-year survival rate is only 7%. There is no known cure. 

Kevin Gebert (1950-2019), a highly-respected surgeon in the Albany/Troy (NY) community passed away from GBM, and while I never got to know him personally, his legacy lives on through his daughter, and my girlfriend, Megan Gebert.  Here's some of what she says about her father:

"My father was so much more than his diagnosis. Here is a little bit about him: He was a brilliant general surgeon and the smartest person I have ever known. He was devoted to medicine and to helping others. He loved downhill skiing, golfing, fly-fishing, sailing, playing bocce and autocross racing his Miata. He was a huge Manchester City fan. Once upon a time, he played the bagpipes (kilt and all!). He had really good taste in music. He was the person everyone went to for advice; he had this uncanny ability to help you work out a problem without telling you what he thought you should do. He put butter on Danish. He liked to sit on the beach by the ocean in the late afternoon, reading. He was my favorite person to talk to; without him here 'there is less to say.' He appreciated a good Scotch and liked a little sip of Sambuca after dinner. He gave great hugs. His favorite exclamation? 'Outstanding!'"

The current standard of care (consisting of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy) is ineffective in battling GBM. Although radiation and chemotherapy can help improve symptoms and give patients a little more time, they can also greatly reduce quality of life — so much so, in fact, that some patients opt out of treatment altogether. Without treatment, the median survival time after a glioblastoma diagnosis is only 3-6 months.

The National Brain Tumor Society is working to change this narrative by funding critical research into the treatment of glioblastoma. Thanks to their research, we now know more than ever how glioblastoma evolve — and, more importantly, what vulnerabilities exist that can be attacked with novel treatments. 

I hope you'll consider a donation of any amount to support this research and work, and help give hope to those who may have to battle this disease one day -- or better, yet, so that they no one ever has to.

With gratitude,

daniel