Typically not the place for this as it’s not motorcycle related, but the other officers and members at the January meeting were behind it. I promised a post once the 2025 Oligo Nation Boston Gala was announced.
Many know that I was diagnosed with an Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma Grade 3 (AO3) for short, in February 2021 after suffering what I would later realize was my 3rd seizure. After a visit to the ER, I was immediately sent to Boston where the tumor was removed as best as possible and followed up with radiation and cycles of a pill form of chemo known as Temozolomide (TMZ). I am living with brain cancer that is currently considered incurable. The treatment process is finished and it's a wait and see with scheduled MRI's to monitor tumor status.
After finishing treatment, I joined many Brain Cancer related Facebook groups and last year discovered Oligo Nation. Oligo Nation was founded by Brock Greene after both his sons were diagnosed with an Oligo. Brock quickly discovered that of all the Cancer raising organizations, very few have money earmarked specifically for Oligo brain tumor research.
Oligo Nation is the community of Oligodendroglioma brain tumor survivors committed to raising money and awareness for medical research to develop effective treatments and eventually a cure.
Oligo Nation's mission is to fund medical research into new treatments for oligodendroglioma brain cancer. Last year, Oligo Nation invested $2.4 million in research, the only meaningful fundraiser for our disease. The first trial was started in Florida in October as a direct result of the money raised.
This year has a more impactful meaning to me. Brock Green, the founder of Oligo Nation, let us know that his son Spencer lost his battle with this disease in October. No one is out of bounds.
This hit me in a few ways:
Despite having relatively no side effects and living/working a normal day to day life, it makes it very real that someday it will come at me.
The other side to Spencer’s coin is that he survived 17 years with this Cancer, others in the Facebook groups are past 30 years.
Now more than ever, donations are needed to fund research to find a cure.
Also at the Boston event this year, Brock and the Boston team will be honoring me with this year’s Inspiration award for my work and contributions on the committee last year. This means I get to stand up in front of the room and say some words about my journey
The 2025 Boston Gala is Thursday night April 3rd at the Artists for Humanity building on A street in South Boston.
Tickets to attend or to make a donation can be found using this link. Any amount helps reach the goal.
https://Boston2025.givesmart.com
Please feel free to share this post.
Thank You in advance for any help and Thank You to everyone that has supported me the past 4 years.
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