Today’s my birthday. For the last ten years I’ve shared a celebration with our niece Sylvia whose birthday is just days after mine. We usually have apple pie (my favorite) AND birthday cake (though every year they somehow get my name wrong on the cake — Don, Denny, Donnie, etc. and I’m beginning to think that’s not a coincidence).
Anyway, historically when I’ve blown out my birthday candles, I’ve wished for the Cubs to win the World Series. Since Cassie’s Metastatic Breast Cancer diagnosis, however, my focus has changed. For the past three years, I’ve wished for more time together and that continues to be my deepest desire. This year though, I’ve decided to be more proactive and not just hope that Cassie gets more time but to do something about it.
So, for my 54th birthday, my wish (and request) is that people will join us in supporting METAvivor the only nonprofit in the country that exclusively raises money and advocates for Metastatic Breast Cancer research. You can contribute to our METAvivor fundraiser through this link:
After Cassie’s diagnosis, we were shocked to learn that only 2% of all funding for breast cancer research is dedicated to metastatic research even though nearly 30% of the people diagnosed with breast cancer will unfortunately experience a metastasis. That’s why the median survival rate for women with MBC is still only five years. This disparity in funding research is wrong and has to change.
That’s where METAvivor comes into the story. It’s a wonderful nonprofit founded and led by women with MBC. 100% of the money they raise goes directly to metastatic research and since their inception METAvivor has funded over 17 million in research grants. Cassie and I are both active volunteers and I co-chair METAvivor’s Advoacy Committee. Our goal with this fundraising campaign is to raise at least $10,000 (and hopefully a lot more) by the end of the year and Cassie and I will match the first $5,000 in contributions.
So this year my birthday wish is that we begin to change the gap in funding metastatic research together. Ten years ago the drugs that are keeping Cassie alive didn’t exist and research led to their development. Please consider contributing to our METAvivor fundraiser so new research can likewise be supported. Maybe you’ll also consider learning more about METAvivor and even signing up for the Stage IV Stampede our signature advocacy event which this year is being held virtually during the entire month of October.
Thanks for helping my birthday wishes come true.
PS: Here’s the full link again as it can be tricky to find when embedded in the text. https://donate.metavivor.org/fundraiser/3508769
