We are running to support rare cancer research. Gabe had Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, or ACC, which is a cancer of secretory glands. It is an equal-opportunity disease that might strike anyone. It is not inherited, or associated with smoking, drinking, infection or ethnicity, however women comprise about 60% of ACC cases. With an average of 1224 people diagnosed annually in the United States, ACC is considered a rare cancer. 1224 is a big or small number depending on your perspective, but of course each of those diagnoses represents a brave, hopeful life. Because there are fewer rare cancer patients than say, breast or colon cancer patients, these rare diseases are harder to study. It is more difficult to get tissue and tumor samples for scientists to examine, and it can be challenging to test potential therapies. Another critical limiting factor is funding for this research. As the private sector has largely overlooked these rare diseases the funding often comes from non profits, like Brave Like Gabe and donors like you! Your donation to my fundraiser supports Brave Like Gabe and critical rare cancer research at places like the University of Minnesota, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. “My goal is to raise awareness for these diseases, the research funding disparities, and other challenges that prevent these cancers from having effective treatment options. Through Brave Like Gabe fundraising efforts, we will support research and accelerate treatments for rare cancer patients.” - Gabe “I remember feeling devastated when I realized how little research had been done on my cancer and the fact that there were not any FDA-approved treatments for my disease—I don’t want any patient to feel that way; that they’re alone in their fight or that the medical research community doesn’t care about their cancer.” - Gabe 

Thank you so much for your support! Allison Smith