“CHICAGO, IL – Forty-five years ago, the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) was founded in Chicago by two mothers, Susan Netchin Kramer and Linda Gene Goldstein, looking for answers that, at the time, were not yet available. Since then, the ABTA has funded more than $30 million in brain tumor research and now reaches a national audience to provide educational and support resources.
On Saturday, March 3, 2018 – to kick off the 45th anniversary – the ABTA hosted two of its signature events that bring the brain tumor community together. In Atlanta, patients, caregivers and health care professionals attended a Partners in Treatment and Care meeting. These meetings, held in different cities throughout the year, allow patients and caregivers to meet one another and hear from a lineup of local, highly regarded brain tumor physicians. Brian Olson, ABTA Board Chair believes “the nationwide Partners in Treatment and Care meetings represent the core of our mission. The patients and caregivers that deal with this disease day to day continue to show their appreciation of these meetings with their attendance.”
At the same time, but almost 800 miles away in Dallas, the ABTA held a Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5K (BT5K) Run & Walk. What started in Chicago as a single city event in 2006 has now grown into a nationwide fundraising series that has raised more than $15.8 million to date.
During its 45th year, the ABTA will host five more Partners in Treatment and Care meetings and eight more BT5Ks, as well as the annual Patient and Family Conference in Chicago on August 3 and 4. To continue moving the organization’s mission to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors forward, the ABTA will soon be awarding various research grants to add to the 681 projects we have funded over the years.
“What this organization has accomplished in 45 years is something to celebrate,” said Ralph DeVitto, ABTA President and CEO. “We’ve got a number of initiatives in the works that will ensure our 50 year anniversary is even bigger than this one, so stay tuned.”
ABOUT THE AMERICAN BRAIN TUMOR ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1973, the American Brain Tumor Association was the first national patient advocacy organization committed to funding brain tumor research and providing support and education programs for patients, caregivers and their loved ones. For more information, visit abta.org or call 800-886-ABTA (2282). “
About Meet Hope Head On
Because of the generous support from people like you, the ABTA has given over $35 million for brain tumor research. The ABTA’s campaign, “Meet Hope Head On,” created for our 50th anniversary, is focused on raising $50 million, in part to fund critical brain tumor research. This campaign is vital for continuing the kind of work that led to the recent FDA approval of vorasidenib, a breakthrough treatment for low-grade glioma.
