Today we met with the Neuro Oncology Team at Trident Healthcare Systems at the North Charleston location. What an amazing center! Upon entering the center, the colors were warm and soothing and the layout was easy to navigate and the information desk is right there ready to answer your questions and provide direction.

The staff is excited about their new stereotactic radiosurgery machine which is an upgrade from their previous machine. We enjoyed touring the center and visiting their resource room where patients are able to meet with one of the members of the neuro-team and learn about resources which can meet their needs.

We look forward to returning to Trident and providing support for their outreach efforts in the community, additional resources for the patients that they serve and to raise awareness so that we can make an impact on this disease!

Keith, the co-founder of the BTAO has been excited about the cycling movement since his ride with the P3C3 group to Austin. He is the ride coordinator for the First Annual Grey Ribbon Ride-”Craniums Converging on Caesars Head” May 9th, 2009.

This fundraiser will benefit The Lance Armstrong Foundation and The Brain Tumor Awareness Organization.

May is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month and South Carolina’s Governor Sanford proclaimed May as Brain Tumor Awareness Month last year. We welcome riders from all over the state to come support this fundraiser to establish patient assistance funds for brain tumor patients and train for future challenges such as The Mt. Mitchell assault occurring later in the month of May.

See you here!

Jennifer Gutierrez-Missouri Affiliate

We have one affiliate in the State of Missouri who has given a whole new meaning to the definition of “The Show-Me State”! She is testifying later today in front of The Missouri Senate Transportation Committee about the significance of The Brain Tumor Awareness Organization and the first Brain Tumor Awareness License Plate to be ever issued.

With May being the first official nationally recognized Brain Tumor Awareness Month, this is just one of the initiatives that The Brain Tumor Awareness Organization is trying to spearhead by supporting advocates with a website and documents to encourage similar projects in their states.

A grassroots movement starts when one or more individuals have the passion about a cause and through our website, we hope to grow an affiliate network of survivors and advocates to assist in “eliminating the shades of grey” that exist between diagnosis and survival. Our challenge is to promote the Grey Ribbon Awareness Campaigns and seek funding initiatives such as The Brain Tumor Awareness License Plate to establish patient assistance funds.

Also, the founder of The Brain Tumor Awareness Organization has been working since 2004 on obtaining a semi-postal stamp to benefit brain research (remember the Breast Cancer Research Stamp?) and needs support in getting members of Congress to support this by introducing it into legislation and following up on a previous nomination for consideration for a similar awareness stamp through the Silver Ribbon Coalition. For more information- visit www.braintumorawareness.org/stamp.html

The Minds in Motion Arts Auction/Gala will be held April 4th, 2009 at The Westin Poinsett in Downtown Greenville

Caring for the Carolinas Award presented to founder of BTAO

Sometimes when you start a small movement and look behind you, there are a few good men (and women) that are always spurring you on and in the trenches for the long haul. Today was one of those days when you are recognized for your ‘idea’ that became a movement due to those that pitched in, dedicated their talents to the cause and most of all, those who were in need but learned how to help others and spread hope.

So it was that I, Julie Houston, was awarded a Caring for the Carolinas Award by News Channel 7 due to a nomination from two of the first individuals who came to my rescue when our family was hit with a brain tumor diagnosis. Barb Smith and Dee Shipp were there for child care and entertainment, house sitting and remodeling (sorry about that!) and most of all, as support. Later their talents as former non-profit founders were offered (and tapped!) to this little concept of a non-profit that offers just a website. Without their guidance or this nomination, such a day as today wouldn’t have been realized.

It is always so special in such a busy world when people you care for and about take the time to join in a moment of recognition like this-it is no small feat to get people from all walks of life and energies in the same place. It is also no small feat that these same individuals have committed themselves to varying levels of support to answer a need so great in our community.

I want to say thank you to our board members, our brain tumor survivors, our sponsors, my family and to News Channel 7 for being so gracious to share in telling this story.

May is the first National Brain Tumor Awareness Month and we, as that small army of do-gooders, are going to do our part to grow programs in South Carolina through awareness campaigns.

Merry Christmas to George and Dubrava