Grey Matters: Shenango Valley 2023

07/26/2024

Registration is now open for Advocate From Your State, our virtual Head to the Hill event on Tuesday, September 10!

This event provides participants with an opportunity to meet virtually with members of Congress and their staff to help policymakers better understand the brain tumor community’s urgent, unmet needs.

Learn more and register today: https://braintumor.org/advocacy/advocate-from-your-state/

07/24/2024

We are pleased to share that today, Congresswoman Susan Wild, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congresswoman Lori Trahan, Congressman John Joyce, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator John Barrasso, Senator Jack Reed, and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds introduced the Bolstering Research And Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act in Congress.

This landmark piece of legislation –– a historic first for the brain tumor community –– advances our mission to defeat brain tumors, once and for all, by strengthening and better funding research efforts, accelerating the quest for cures, fostering collaboration, promoting critical awareness efforts, and innovating the way health care is delivered for patients with brain tumors and survivors.

Please join us in thanking the co-sponsors of this bill and in asking your own representatives to help make this urgently needed law a reality.

Press release here: https://braintumor.org/news/national-brain-tumor-society-celebrates-the-introduction-of-the-bipartisan-bolstering-research-and-innovations-now-brain-act-in-congress/

06/20/2024

Thank you Shenango Valley! Because of your efforts we were listed as one of the Top Fundraising Events in the National Brain Tumor Society 2023 Annual Report. We couldn't have done it without you and the great staff at NBTS.

06/02/2024

Today, on , we join millions of cancer survivors and supporters around the world as we and raise awareness of the ongoing challenges survivors face because of their disease.

All survivors deserve a life with less complication and more celebration.

Share your story and the unique survivorship challenges you face today: https://braintumor.org/brain-tumors/stories/share-your-story/

05/17/2024

When I attended a couple of weeks ago I talked to the CEO and President of the National Brain Tumor Society about what more I can do for the organization. One was fighting for preventing brain tumors in the place and helping with quality of life issues. Secondly, the type of tumor I have is an Oligodendroglioma. I was diagnosed with it in 2012. What surprised me what he told me at that time Oligos were relatively misunderstood. Oncologists didn't know much about the codeletions. Sadly, the treatments are still the same as they were 40-50 years ago and survival rates haven't changed.

For more than 30 years, NBTS has relentlessly pursued a cure and a better quality of life for patients with brain tumors, including those with .

In fact, NBTS funding directly supported the discovery of the 1p19q chromosome co-deletion that defines oligodendroglioma.

Learn more about our oligodendroglioma research efforts today on : https://braintumor.org/brain-tumors/about-brain-tumors/brain-tumor-types/oligodendroglioma/ -research

05/04/2024

An interesting fact given by President & CEO David Arons, JD of the National Brain Tumor Society: Funding for brain tumors over the last 5 or 6 years increased by about $100 million. Funding doubled from $220 million to $500 million over the last ten years. During our event last year we raised a little more than $6600 (our goal was $5000). Your contributions helped this accelerated pace of funding. We all thank you for your generosity and commitment to this important cause!

05/02/2024

04/19/2024

Some exciting news coming up. During the first week of May I'll be traveling to DC again for Head to the Hill (Tuesday May 7th) to meet up with the National Brain Tumor Society. For those that don't know Head to the Hill is an event where hundreds of brain tumor survivors, caregivers, and advocates talk to our members of Congress to increase funding for brain tumor research and quality of life measures. If you would like to contact your member of Congress to support the National Brain Tumor Society's mission you can find your member here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials. I will be updating this page about what our asks are.

Furthermore, in the coming months I'll be updating you all about exciting news about the next fundraiser planned for next year. The event will be in collaboration with awesome people who are fellow survivors and caregivers. Great things are coming. Stay tuned!

Use USAGov’s Contact Your Elected Officials tool to get contact information for your members of Congress, the president, and state and local officials.

11/06/2023

I want to thank Commissioner Tim McGonigle for his efforts in making the Grey Matters: Shenango Valley a great success. Not only was he a Platinum Sponsor ($1000), but he also went out of his way to ask his generous friends to donate as well, which was almost another $1000 (about a 1/3 of our grand total). He didn't ask to take a photo-op or receive special recognition when he donated to the organization. He didn't put his campaign magnets on his vehicle or take a photo of himself with his political sign in the background to draw attention to his campaign and politicize a great cause. He didn't make the event about himself. Tim came to the event early to help setup that made the check-in process quick and easy. And he didn't walk around politicking to gain votes. He simply attended the event to give back the community that he loves and the community that he has invested in for decades. Thank you everything you do for Mercer County Commissioner McGonigle.

06/12/2023

This is such exciting news. A new drug, in a Phase 3 trial, is approved by the FDA. Oligodendrogliomas are inoperable and, unfortunately, come back. However, this drug prevents the growth of lower-grade, but deadly brain tumors such as Oligos. Your efforts go towards experiments like this. Be proud of your accomplishment .

Watch NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt excerpt 'New drug effective at preventing growth of lower-grade brain tumors, clinical trial finds' on NBC.com