Lena Maximo Robinson's Fundraising Page

Lena Maximo Robinson graced us with her compelling authenticity, her very generous humanity and the “light” of her Love, for 57 years. Born in San Paulo, Brazil, Lena was the youngest child of four in her family.

Lena possessed an ardent love for her family and friends. She was fortunate enough to marry the one and only Love of her Life in April of 2020, thus adding two beloved Stepsons and their fiancé’s to her American family.

Lena loved Brazilian dance, bicycling, traveling the world and anything else she could do outside. Lena had a way of unearthing beauty in her everyday life that created a sense of joy for all of us who were fortunate enough to have her in our lives, and there were many. When Lena spoke of something she loved, the sparkle that came to her eyes was unmistakable. When Lena smiled, that smile emanated from the depth of her heart. Lena had a natural intelligence and interest in people that she carried deep down to her soul. Her friendships were many
and involved people from all over the world.

Our dear friend Lena…so unique in your combination of modest demeanor, yet a brilliant performer when it came to living your life with purpose, integrity and Love….
Your light will forever remain in our hearts.


Research

Donations made in Lena’s honor support Dr. F. Stephen Hodi’s melanoma research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Melanoma Center. The Center houses one of the nation’s premier programs focused exclusively on researching and treating melanoma, and Dana-Farber’s world-class scientists and clinical investigators work across disciplines, departments, and institutional boundaries to translate research findings into new, effective therapies for patients.

Dr. Hodi was the first to demonstrate the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in a clinical trial and continues to improve outcomes for patients by optimizing approaches. In a recent study, Dr. Hodi was able to identify biomarkers through the testing of blood samples, which is less invasive and more useful for routine testing than a traditional biopsy. He is also working to develop more markers of response that help investigators better select treatments for individual patients and avoid toxic side effects.