Michael's Fundraising Page

Help defeat pediatric brain cancer
Help defeat pediatric brain cancer

WHY I'M RUNNING THE 2024 ASICS FALMOUTH ROAD RACE TO DEFY CANCER

When our daughter Adelia was diagnosed with Diffuse Midline Glioma, or DMG in February 2023, we were propelled into a world that needs our attention and support. We quickly learned how vastly underfunded pediatric cancer research is, and how promising breakthroughs in labs can never reach patients due to lack of funding, or that sometimes a trial will be cut off due to lack of funding, causing patients to abruptly change their treatment plans. 

 

Only 4% of all federal funding for cancer research is allocated for pediatric cancer research. And of that 4%, only 1% is allocated for pediatric brain cancer - amounting to a mere 0.04% of all federal funding for cancer research. That number becomes even more startling when you consider the fact that pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the leading cause cause of cancer mortality in children.


Each year, 300 to 500 families in the United States receive the same diagnosis we did. And here's a fact that brings home the urgency of our mission: the only standard of care for DMG is radiation, a treatment that has remained unchanged since Neil Armstrong's daughter received her diagnosis in 1962.

 

We can, and we must, do better for our children.


For 15-months, Adelia battled through 5 brain surgeries, 63 radiation treatments, and countless other pokes, scans, and procedures. While she had every right and reason to complain, she remained hopeful, selfless, and positive throughout her fight and exuded the utmost bravery and resilience until the very end, passing away on May 30th, 2024.    

With only experimental phase 1 clinical trials as treatment options, Adelia deserved better and we need to do better for all of the other children facing this monster of a disease. This year we will be dedicating all of our fundraising efforts to a new and desperately needed Brain Tumor Center that bridges Dana Farber and Boston Children's Hospital. This center is being spearheaded by Dr. Baird, arguably the best pediatric neurosurgeon in the world, and Dr. Filbin, one of the most brilliant and motivated researchers in this space.  This center strives to develop personalized, precision medicine, where they can deliver rapid real-time molecular analysis to allow more effective treatments to start sooner. The center will also be developing support systems for families, a vital necessity and currently a missing piece in providing high quality continuum of care. Click here for more information about the Brain Tumor Center.

Join the Adelia the Wonder Girl Facebook page to read more about Adelia's courageous battle and to learn more about future events.

PROGRESS TO GOAL

Raised:$9,631.15
Goal:$10,000
Michael McClellan's Team: Adelia the Wonder Girl
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THANK YOU TO MY DONORS

NAME
AMOUNT
Fundraising Honor Roll
Agnes Bayer-Kiss
$103
Alexa Balbo
$103
Andy and Kristine Sargeantson
Anid Family
$500
Anonymous
Anonymous
$500
Anonymous
Anonymous
$206
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Benjamin Jewell
$100
Bobby Riley
Caras Family
Chris Stoeckle
$100
Courtney Camps Toomey
Courtney Tuch
$103
DiMatteo family
$100
Doug Johnson
Eliav Kahan
$100
Emily and Chris Cotter
Emir Kapanci
$500
Fabrizio Family
Fadden Dana
Google for Thomas Majoch
$50
Helen Russ
$30
ilya
$20
James Finkenstaedt
$250
Janet Underhill
$50
Jessica Furnari
$25
Jose Cortez
$150
Kaitlyn Phelps
Karla Jones
$100
Kurt Bolgen
Kurt Bolgen
$103
Lauren Mahoney
$100
Lindsay & Pat Noone
$257
Lindsay McNamara
$103
Lizzie Bildner
$257
London Love
$150
Margaret Turgeon
$51
Mark Rienzi
$100
Mary Larkin
Molly DeShazo and Kevin Platt
Mr. Brandon Ward
$25
Mr. Kevin Bradley
$206
Mr. Phil Wilson
$100
Mr. Rahul Khosla
Mr. Ranjith Balaji T A
$51
Mr. Thomas Majoch
$51
Nichole O'Reilly
$150
Pepe family
Rachel Brean
$103
Ryan Sullivan
$51
Sara Orr
$51
Scott & Beth Jamieson and Family
Shruthi Saralaya
The Covello's
$103
The Crowells
$103
The Curtin family
$150
The Dwyers
The Norte Family
The Ungers
$154
Will Mciver
$103
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Together, we can defy cancer!