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X-WR-CALNAME:The Life Raft Group
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Life Raft Group
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240702T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240702T193000
DTSTAMP:20240823T152527Z
CREATED:20230727T133611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240823T152527Z
UID:10000605-1719943200-1719948600@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual GIST Patient Support Group
DESCRIPTION:The Patient Support Group meets via Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET (NYC Time). \nWe will start each group with a “Round Robin” in which anyone who feels like updating the group on how they are doing/feeling can do so. There is no pressure to speak if you prefer to simply listen. Once we complete our updates\, the group will have the opportunity for organic conversation to develop in relation to our emotional experiences around GIST\, and other challenges that we may be experiencing as a community. \nIn order to be able to moderate a flowing discussion\, the group will be capped at 15 people each month. The first 15 people into the Zoom waiting room will participate. Keep in mind that since the group is now open\, you don’t necessarily have to attend each month to participate. \nContact Brian Morello to join: bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-gist-patient-support-group-2023-first/2024-07-02/
LOCATION:NJ
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GISTer-Support-Group-2022-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240703T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240703T140000
DTSTAMP:20240614T133545Z
CREATED:20230727T134933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240614T133545Z
UID:10000641-1720011600-1720015200@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual GIST Caregiver Support Group
DESCRIPTION:Monthly Virtual Support Group for GIST Caregivers\nHeld on the first Wednesday of the month \nLRG hosts a monthly virtual support group for the caregivers. We will share our stories\, if you are comfortable\, and speak freely about the new fears and anxieties we might be feeling during this journey as a caregiver. The group will be a safe space not only to feel supported by your fellow caregivers\, but also a place to share our own coping mechanisms\, concerns\, successes and trials. All information shared will be kept confidential. \nContact Brian Morello to join: bmorello@liferaftgroup.org \nAbout the Group Leader:\nMarlene Nei\, GIST Caregiver\nAs an active member of The Life Raft Group\, Marlene advocates for the needs of the caregiver community because she feels they are an underrepresented group. It is her mission to advocate for the entire GIST community making sure they are equipped with the appropriate resources on their GIST journey.
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-gist-caregiver-support-group-2023/2024-07-03/
LOCATION:NJ
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/caregiver-sg-2023.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240708T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240708T180000
DTSTAMP:20240823T153041Z
CREATED:20240528T154845Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240823T153041Z
UID:10000653-1720461600-1720461600@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Florida Support Group
DESCRIPTION:Florida Support Group\nZoom\, 2nd Monday of the Month – 6pm ET\nOur moderator is a fellow GISTER/LRG Member from Florida diagnosed with GIST in late 2016.\nIf you wish to attend\, please email Brian Morello: bmorello@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-florida-support-group-2-2/2024-07-08/
LOCATION:NJ
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/florida-support-group.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240712T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240712T120000
DTSTAMP:20250311T151017Z
CREATED:20240617T175754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250311T151017Z
UID:10000784-1720785600-1720785600@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:GIST Awareness Day: A Focus on GIST Research
DESCRIPTION:July 13th\, GIST Awareness Day\, is a time when GIST experts\, patients\, and caregivers come together to educate the public about this disease and advocate for finding a cure.  The Life Raft Group invites GIST patients and caregivers to celebrate GIST Awareness Day with us on July 12th at 12PM ET. During this virtual event\, Dr. Matthew Hemming and PhD candidate Favour Akabogu of UMass Cancer Center will discuss exploring mechanisms driving GIST\, treatment efficacy\, and clinical outcomes\, as well as the importance of patient involvement in rare disease research. An interactive Q&A segment will follow their presentations. \n\nPlease email srothschild@liferaftgroup.org to submit a question ahead of the presentation.  \n\n\n\nPlease note that this webinar is not a substitute for your physician’s guidance and care.\nREGISTERAbout Our Presenters\n \nDr. Matthew Hemming\nUMass Chan Medical School \nDr. Matthew Hemming  is an assistant professor of medicine at UMass Chan Medical School\, practicing sarcoma medical oncologist\, and principal investigator of the SarcomaLab. He received his BS from UC San Diego\, PhD from Harvard University\, and MD from Harvard Medical School. He completed internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Hematology/Oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He has focused his clinical practice and laboratory work on sarcoma and GIST\, with the goal to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies through basic and translational research. \n \nFavour Akabogu\nPhD Candidate \nFavour Akabogu is a PhD candidate in the SarcomaLab through the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School where she studies gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with a focus on identifying novel treatment options. She got her B.A in Biology at Berea College in Kentucky and worked as a Research Associate at Vanderbilt University where she investigated the role of Discodain Domain Receptors (DDRs) in the progression of acute kidney injury to kidney fibrosis. Additionally\, she worked in collaboration with the CDC on understanding the household transmission respiratory disease particularly SARS-CoV2\, RSV and Influenza. She is passionate about healthcare and drug discovery through scientific innovation. She loves traveling\, dancing\, and spending time with family and friends in her free time. \nThank you to our Webinar Sponsors!
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/gist-awareness-day-a-focus-on-gist-research/
LOCATION:NJ
CATEGORIES:Education,Events,Webcast
ORGANIZER;CN="Sara Rothschild":MAILTO:srothschild@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240716T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240716T193000
DTSTAMP:20260605T133728Z
CREATED:20230727T134306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T133728Z
UID:10000712-1721152800-1721158200@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual GIST Patient Support Group
DESCRIPTION:The Patient Support Group meets via Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET (NYC Time). \nWe will start each group with a “Round Robin” in which anyone who feels like updating the group on how they are doing/feeling can do so. There is no pressure to speak if you prefer to simply listen. Once we complete our updates\, the group will have the opportunity for organic conversation to develop in relation to our emotional experiences around GIST\, and other challenges that we may be experiencing as a community. \nIn order to be able to moderate a flowing discussion\, the group will be capped at 15 people each month. The first 15 people into the Zoom waiting room will participate. Keep in mind that since the group is now open\, you don’t necessarily have to attend each month to participate. \nIf you wish to attend\, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-gist-patient-support-group-third/2024-07-16/
LOCATION:NJ
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GISTer-Support-Group-2022-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240719
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240722
DTSTAMP:20240816T145009Z
CREATED:20230809T123922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240816T145009Z
UID:10000624-1721347200-1721606399@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Life Fest 2024 - San José
DESCRIPTION:REGISTERLife Fest 2024 is July 19th – 21st in San José\, CA!\nLife Fest is a unique event where patients and caregivers come together for a weekend to interact with each other and the medical and scientific communities that serve them. Faced with a rare form of cancer\, GIST patients have a great need for information about this disease\, particularly as the science evolves and our understanding reveals a complex set of subtypes of GIST\, each responding differently to available treatments. Each year brings a wealth of new information\, and patients are eager to learn about the latest treatments.  \nLife Fest workshops provide patients with emerging medical information\, and they come away with a deeper knowledge of the disease\, treatments and side effect management. They find hope in knowing the scientific community is working toward a cure\, and hope is such a vital asset as they struggle day by day for survival.  \nThe Life Raft Group emerged in recognition of the tremendous need for support in the GIST community. Life Fest 2024 will provide patients and caregivers with that support. Coming together with fellow patients from all walks of life from around the world is a meaningful and powerful experience. In addition to our traditional educational workshops\, Life Fest 2024 will feature scientific presentations highlighting the newest research and the latest treatments.  \nView presentations & photo galleries of previous Life Fest events \nClick image for a PDF of the Agenda: \n \nParking\, Hotels & Flights\nParking for the conference location (Signia Hilton Hotel San Jose): \nValet parking from Reef Valet at the hotel is available for $47 overnight. Hourly parking rates are $20.00 for the first hour with $2.00 for each additional hour (not to exceed $47.00. \nAlternate parking:\n50 W San Fernando St Garage\, (408) 283-5063\nhttps://www.parkme.com/lot/22188/50-west-san-jose-ca\n \n285 S Market St Parking Lot\nhttps://www.parkvel.com/california/san-jose/285-s-market-st-parking/ \nFor additional parking locations nearby and located in downtown: https://www.sanjose.org/trip-ideas/parking \nHotel Information\nThe LRG has secured two blocks of hotel rooms for guests stays at two price points. \nThese special group rates will be available until July 1\, 2024. \nSignia Hilton San Jose\n170 S Market Street\nSan Jose\, CA 95113\n408-998-3975 \nLife Fest Group* \n\nRooms are available at the Hilton San Jose at a different price point. This hotel is within walking distance from our Life Fest conference site at the Signia. \nThese special group rates will be available until June 25\, 2024. \nHilton San Jose\n300 Almaden Boulevard\nSan Jose\, CA 95110\n408.947.4453 \nLIFE FEST (hilton.com) \n\nAirline Discounts for Life Fest attendees:\nDelta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for The Life Raft Group. \nPlease click here to book your flights. \nYou may also call Delta Meeting Network® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday–Friday\, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (EST) and refer to Meeting Event Code NM3GE*Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number. \n\nUnited Airlines is pleased to partner with The Life Raft Group for special discounts.\nTo make flight reservations\, please click on discount code ZPCQ398065 \n– MileagePlus members earn valuable miles for their travel when using the Meetings discount code.\n– You may also call United Meetings Reservation Desk Monday – Friday at (800) 426-1122 for booking assistance.\n– Booking fees are waived for Meeting reservations.\n– International customers may contact their local United Reservation Desk. \n\nDonate to the Life Fest Scholarship Fund 2024\nAny questions about Life Fest 2024? \nPlease reach out to Brian Morello\, Director of Development\, at bmorello@liferaftgroup.org \nOur Sponsors:
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/life-fest-2024-san-jose/
LOCATION:Signia by Hilton San Jose\, 170 S. Market St\, San Jose\, CA\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education,Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240721T071500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240721T071500
DTSTAMP:20240626T124659Z
CREATED:20240226T184316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240626T124659Z
UID:10000767-1721546100-1721546100@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:GIST Do It Walk San José
DESCRIPTION:Join us for this fundraising walk at Life Fest 2024 in San José\, California\, in memory of GISTer Ted Wolf!\nRegistration + T-shirt is a $40 donation. Additional T-shirts are a $25 donation per shirt.\nREGISTER FOR WALK If you are not walking or want additional T-shirts\, you can get T-shirts for $25 donation + shipping (per shirt)\, order here:\nT-Shirt sizes are S\, M\, L\, XL\, 2XL\, and 3XL. \nShirts are navy blue 50/50 cotton blend. \n\nT-SHIRTS
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/gist-do-it-walk-san-jose/
LOCATION:Signia by Hilton San Jose\, 170 S. Market St\, San Jose\, CA\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fundraising
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
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