The Gist Cancer Research Fund is proud to announce that we have raised over
$960,000.00.

We will be giving grants to the labs and institutions doing Gist research. Please join us
and learn what research is being done and what new drugs are on the horizon.

GRANT PRESENTATIONS

March 15th – University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Dr. Anette Duensing Lab

11:00 – 11:15 Meet in lobby of the Hillman Cancer Center
11:15 – 12:00 Tour of Center and Lab
12:00 – 2:00 Grand presentation and research update

March 24th – Memorial Sloan Kettering

Rockefeller Research Laboratories, 430 E 67th St, Room 104, NYC

3:30 – 5:00 Program
Dr. Ron DeMatteo – Update on Role of Adjuvant Imatinib Therapy in Gist
Dr. Bob Maki – Update on new Gist clinical trials.
Dr. Mike LaQuaglia – Update on Pediatric NIH Clinic.
Dr. Cristina Antonecu – Update on Gist research.

April 14th – Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Center Building – Conference Rooms A & B
12:00 – Presentation and Luncheon

Dr. Andrew Godwin, Dr. Meg Von Mehren, Jamie Roche
(215) 728-2531 – confirm

May 3rd – Brigham Womens Hospital, Boston, MA

Shapiro Cardiovascular Center, 3rd Floor Lounge
Dr. Jonathan Fletcher’s Lab

1:30 – Speakers – Dr. Jonathan Fletcher, Dr. George Demetri

May 18th – 19th OHSU, Portland, Oregon

May 18th
3:00 – 4:00 Meeting – Dr. Brian Druker
Tuesday Evening Dinner Get Together – Patients & Caregivers
Time and Location to be determined
Confirm – Gail Mansfield – (503) 620-4893  GCRF – (845) 634-6060

May 19th Roundtable Discussion & Lab Tour
8:30 – Breakfast at MacKenzie Hall
9:30 – Program – Dr. Chris Corless & Dr. Mike Heinrich
10:30 – 11:15 Lab Tour

Thank you for your support in helping to eradicate this rare cancer.

All funds were raised through donations. None of these funds came from any pharmaceutical companies.

All members of the Board of Directors of Gist Cancer Research Fund are volunteers and receive no compensation.

We at GCRF appreciate the efforts, commitment and the determination that goes into such a worthwhile (and fun) project. Thank you for making the difference in so many peoples lives.

View photos from this year’s event!

To that end, we recently hosted the inaugural “GIST Do It! Let’s Find a Cure” Benefit party in Chicago, IL on October 24th, 2009. Working in close allegiance with the GCRF, the party was the culmination of months of hard work and an overwhelming level of support from family, friends, and the greater Hinsdale community where they live just outside of Chicago.

Thanks to generous donations for both the party and silent auction items, the party was a huge success and raised over $47,000 for the GCRF.  As importantly, the 350+ attendees had a great time at the Halloween costume-themed event and truly served as a source of inspiration for all of us affected by this cancer.

Jill and I look forward to working with GCRF leadership in the coming months to target these funds through the most impactful and promising channels to help find a cure!  Here are some photos of highlights from the event.”

The girls Scout were at the Walk and helped with many things, giving out water and welcoming people coming in and even raised funds with the apples.

Sept 26th Walk in LaPine, OR

Steve Garrick, Timothy Mansfield, Dave Creider, Tom Walter, Don Wright, Ralph Carlson, Linda Jackson, Ginny Asp, Jerry Steinmetz

View photos from the October 4, 2009
GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor) Walk for A Cure Event at Rockland Lake State Park.

Photo Gallery from 2009 Walks

Interview with Tania regarding walks

NEW YORK ……. We’re looking for a few good riders for the benefit of GIST Cancer Research! In July 2006, Peter Thomas, a British cancer patient suffering from a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), was inspired to organize a 1,000-mile, 10 day bicycle ride to raise money for the GIST Cancer Research Fund. Since then, Peter has passed away, but The 2009 Peter Thomas GIST CANCER RESEARCH FUND, 1000 Mile, 10 Day Cycle Challenge continues the dream that he inspired.

A fifteen member team of friends and family will depart Montréal, Québec, Canada on September 24, 2009 and finish at Rockland State Park, New York, on October 3, 2009. This trip will cover a distance of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) in 10 days. Cyclists from all over the world will be joining in the ride – Australia, UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and South Africa. Some of the cyclists will then participate in the annual, “round the lake” walk in Rockland State Park on October 4, 2009 which is an activity coordinated by the Gist Cancer Research Fund (www.gistinfo.com) and is used to raise funds and awareness.

The team is looking for the first 100 cyclists to join them on the Kingfield to Brewer, Maine part of the trip (September 26, 2009) or on the final leg from Sharon, Connecticut to Rockland State Park, New York (October 3, 2009).

Cancer is a disease that has touched all of us. Cancer organizations such as The American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation have developed an amazing awareness for their cause and millions of people all over the world recognize them. But have you heard about GIST? GIST is an extremely rare sarcoma known as gastrointestinal stromal tumor. GIST does not have an early detection and does not respond to chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

GIST is what the National Cancer Institute calls an orphan cancer because it affects a relative handful of patients, and little is known about it. It was so uncommon that it was often lumped with another sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma.

With the limited funds that have been raised for research, Gleevac by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Sutent by Pfizer has shown to have positive effects in stabilizing Adult GIST. However, for the children, teenagers and young adult pediatric cases, surgery is the only option.
For a majority of the GIST cases, surgery is the only treatment and the cancer returns 90 percent of the time.

A cancer that strikes just 8,500 Americans a year doesn’t attract national attention or federal money. When GIST researchers apply for grants, no matter how sound their science, they are usually turned down, with the federal research money going to the more popular cancers. This makes private funding from such nonprofit groups as the GIST Cancer Research Fund all the more important.

Doctors, surgeons, oncologists and most importantly, patients, need to be aware of what GIST is and where to find hope. Because of this, Tania and Robert Stutman formed the GIST Cancer Research Fund, to raise awareness of GIST and raise money for GIST research. They also helped spearhead formation of an Internet support group and launched a Web site, www.gistinfo.org. They are tireless in their efforts to get the word out about GIST and to find a cure. This is a very personal quest – Tania has GIST.

The 2009 Peter Thomas Memorial Ride and Walk for the Cure are the two cornerstone fundraising events for GIST. Both are centered in Rockland Lake State Park, Congers, NY, October 3 and 4 respectively. The walk has become the largest annual gathering of GIST patients, caregivers, researchers, doctors and pharmaceutical company representatives in the world. More than 500 people from across the United States and as far away as Australia have participated in the Walk. Cyclists from all parts of the world will be joining the ride at various legs of the route.

Adam Boyd at GIST Walk

Hi, my name is Adam Boyd and I am a senior at Lewis Cass High School in Indiana. For my senior class English project, I choose to do a cancer walk.

Cancer has been a big thing for my family since my older brother was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2007. Then the same year my mom was diagnosed with GIST cancer. So for my project, I wanted to do something for my mom. I choose to do a GIST cancer walk to make a difference and to help raise funds for research for this cancer.

On October 25th, 2009 we had the walk at our school with many coming out to walk and many giving donations! It was a great cold and sunny day! We were able to raise over $2000.00! My hope is that one day a cure will be found for my mom and for all the others that have GIST cancer.

PS – Tania, I am still waiting for some donations to come back in before I send it all to you…but it will be coming soon!! Hope that you are doing well..hugs to you!

Adam

” I will Run For A Cure ” Linda said. I know she can do it

Linda is a Gist patient but she is my friend. Good luck my friend, we will all cheer you on.

FOLLOW-UP: Linda did go the distance (see photos).  Congratulations and thanks for reminding us that all challenges can be met and overcome!

For more information, please contact Jill Biegansky, jbiegansky@gmail.com or Tel # 773-848-4353

Online Invitation

Article appearing in Eric & Jill’s local paper