#GrowStacheStrong - Dave Percy
$403.69
Raised
9
Donations
$500
Goal
Well people, here we are! Another November looking like my dad in the early 90s! It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since Geej passed. He’s an easy guy to miss. His famous smile, laugh, humor, cordiality, and his second nature to be supportive made him a great friend. But his unwavering ability to show up when you needed him made GJ a great brother. Thinking back on our time together mostly we ate pizza, drank beer, and laughed at anything we could find. In that light I find it fitting that he has us growing lip warmers to show up for him.
This month, November, I will be rocking that stache in support of StacheStrong and to bring awareness to glioblastoma. GBM is a deadly form of brain cancer that, today, has no cure. It’s a disease that advances quickly and is very difficult to fight. GJ was diagnosed with GBM at a young age but he fought it tooth and nail surviving two brain surgeries. In the end GBM took my friend away but not before he started something great.
Today StacheStrong has raised nearly $400,000 for GBM research. Through Colin and GJ’s amazing work StacheStrong recently gifted its 4th research grant to Dr. Brandyn Castro a resident researching at Northwestern Medicine. The grant funds Dr. Castro’s research for an entire year and more grants are on the way. This money, this research, comes from your donations. Things like the virtual 5k we did this summer, buying merch from StacheStrong’s online store, donating, and growing out facial hair are making a difference.
I miss my friend but I’m proud of what he’s started. Colin and the Gerner family are some of the most incredible people you will ever meet. I’m proud to support them, StacheStrong, and remember my friend GJ this month by raising funds. I hope you will too.
Please donate!
Love you all!
Miss you bud!
Every November, people around the globe grow out their facial hair to participate in the phenomenon known as Movember or No Shave November. StacheStrong invites you to participate with us during November by letting your mustache grow wild as we aim to further spread our mission to combat the deadliest brain cancer. Make GBM awareness the reason behind why you’re growing out your mustache, because we’ve learned first-hand how difficult it is for a lot of people to talk about brain cancer. Patients and their families feel isolated during what is seemingly an insurmountable uphill battle. Let’s start the conversation today, one ‘Stache at a time!!!
What’s StacheStrong, you might ask? It is a 501(c)3 Charity we founded in 2018 as a result of a grim diagnosis of GBM to my brother, George “GJ” Gerner. Statistically, GBM has a life expectancy of 10-15 months and simply put, this is the most dire of brain cancers. GJ subsequently endured two emergency brain surgeries to remove golf ball sized tumors, several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, as well as plenty of other treatments. Everyone has heroes, but ours was one of the strongest you could ever meet. After a 25 month battle, our hero gained his wings on 9/17/19 as he passed the torch to us to continue his fight.
We had a tremendous amount of support last year from different police and fire departments, as well as several individuals from around the United States. Their efforts helped us raise over $10,000 for brain cancer research during November. This is where we need your help as we aim to GROW this campaign! If you or someone you know is interested, please email us and we will set up a donation page for your group on our website. We mustache you to tag @StacheStrong and use #GrowStacheStrong and #LiveStacheStrong in all social media posts. Together, we CAN make a difference!
About StacheStrong
StacheStrong is a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Charity focused on raising funds and awareness for brain cancer research. We have raised vital funds for brain cancer research since inception and have become a beacon of hope for countless families facing this currently incurable disease across the country. All proceeds raised go directly to brain cancer research. With these funds, StacheStrong has:
- Partnered with the National Brain Tumor Society and together funded $500,000 to launch GBM AGILE
- Funded $100,000 to Mount Sinai NYC for a fully personalized immunotherapy vaccine
- Funded $50,000 for the StacheStrong and NREF Research Grant on behalf of the AANS/CNS Section
- Funded $50,000 towards The Targeting DNA Damage Repair in Glioma Consortium.