One hundred and thirty thousand wishes, tributes, memories, goals, and dreams greeted me on arrival to the Life Raft Group’s Life Fest 2014. They were in the shape of origami boats. From a distance, [...]
On Sunday, October 12, 2014, Mia Byrne crossed the finish line of the Chicago Marathon, completing the race in 5:55. It was a tribute to her husband Michael that she was able to finish. In [...]
Glenita Mungcal My mother, Glenita Mungcal, died from her GIST tumor earlier this year. What we thought was a fluke, a one-time tumor, became a six-year journey of trial, hope, consultations and [...]
Mo Collins Are you interested in learning about how others live with GIST? Do you have questions about patient assistance programs, treatment options and the nutritional and emotional aspects of GIST? Join [...]
The De Lorenzo boys, Gregory John and older brother Simon Joseph On September 6th, Jason De Lorenzo continued his annual tradition of throwing a barbecue for family and friends. Jay’s “DeLo Barbecue” combines [...]
Charlie Burke has developed a thick skin when it comes to cancer. After surviving bouts with colorectal, thyroid and skin cancers, he was well acquainted with the routine of doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, surgeries and regular treatment that accompany disease by the time a GIST tumor was discovered in his colon. However, as any of our members will tell you, GIST comes with its own unique lexicon to master and set of challenges to overcome.
As July 13’s GIST Awareness Day draws closer we are encouraging all of our members to make the day their own by spreading the word in their local communities. Raising awareness about GIST eases obstacles to education, treatment and research that make this disease so difficult to battle. GIST Awareness Day puts the power to help bring about this change in the hands of you, our members, who have been most profoundly touched by GIST.
In December, 2013, the Life Raft Group launched its “We Are the Cure” campaign to fund GIST research in response to the shrinking pool of available funds. As a rare disease, GIST research is impacted more than other more common cancers like breast and colon. Institutions like the National Cancer Institute are funding just four to five percent of all research proposals which means that a rare cancer like GIST is lost amongst the roughly 200 cancers competing for funding.
Life Raft Group member, Diana Smith was recently featured in an article in Clarksville Tennessee’s Leaf Chronicle about GIST. The article quotes Assistant Program Director, Mildred Menos and provides helpful information about GIST sure to [...]
Approximately less than one minute into talking with Mariel and Terrance Pridmore, one thing became very clear—they cannot wait to go back to camp.
