A MESSAGE FROM Micah
I’m lacing up for my first ever marathon in NYC to raise vital funds for Brave Like Gabe—an organization dedicated to accelerating research into rare cancers. Here’s why your support means so much to me:
Why rare cancers need our attention:
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC)—the disease Brave Like Gabe was founded to fight—strikes secretory glands and doesn’t discriminate by age, background, or lifestyle. With only about 1,224 U.S. diagnoses per year, ACC is called “rare,” but each diagnosis represents a courageous person battling uncertainty and too few treatment options. Because rare cancers affect fewer people, they receive less research funding and face unique barriers in collecting tissue samples, testing new therapies, and finding cures.
My journey into rare cancer research:
I first fell in love with the power of research while working in the Simon Lab, studying acute myeloid leukemia. It was there that I got to witness firsthand how philanthropy can transform lives. Dr. Alyssa Webster—Brave Like Gabe’s inaugural Fellow —brought critical momentum to our efforts, allowing us to explore new molecular targets, acquire critical reagents, and utilize cutting-edge technologies that would’ve otherwise been cost-prohibitive. BLG’s goal of providing hope to patients through early discoveries underscored how every dollar counts.
Why I’m running—and why you can make a difference:
Trust and funding for medical research are at an all‑time low, even as patients’ lives hang in the balance. By running 26.2 miles, I hope to raise both awareness and critical dollars. Your donation will:
-Support Brave Like Gabe’s fellowships at leading centers like the Fred Hutch Cancer Center.
-Fund new tissue banks, clinical trials, and cutting‑edge lab research targeting rare tumors.
-Help ensure no patient feels alone in their fight or overlooked by the research community.
Looking ahead: UC Irvine School of Medicine
This fall, I’ll begin my medical training at UC Irvine School of Medicine. I’m eager to combine firsthand clinical experience with my lab background, so I can continue championing rare cancer research from both the bench and the bedside.
Thank you for cheering me on—whether with a donation, a share, or simply a word of encouragement. Together, we can turn the tide against rare cancers.
