Did you know that every day 9 children are diagnosed with a brain tumor in the US, and sadly within five years 4 of those children will lose their battle. Just take a moment to imagine what these families and children must be going through. However, with your help we can change the prognosis for others. Through the monies raised by the PBTF great advances have and will continue to be made. Again, WE CAN and Will make a difference. Please help, your donation will help save a childs life! THANK YOU in advance for your generosity.
HI! Thanks so much for taking the time to read our story:My son David and I, as a team are raising money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's San Diego Ride for Kids.
On behalf of this charity, we would like to invite your support in helping us reach our donation goal of $6500.00. This charity is extremely important because of our own personal experiences with brain tumors. By way of background, at the age of 6, David had his first brain tumor surgery. A second surgery was needed several months later because the entire tumor hadn't been removed. His tumors grow along the ventricles which is what our spinal fluid travels through. The tumor was blocking one of the ventricles. After the surgeries there were some problems, shunts were needed to assist the ventricles. Then there were complications which caused a stroke at the occipital lobe of the brain, which then caused blindness. Partially sighted is the term for his vision, no peripheral. .
David has a Subependymal Giant cell Astrocytoma (SEGA).
We celebrated his 20th Birthday this past June, and continues to be monitored with MRI's should the tumor become problematic and also to make sure the shunts continue to do their job. He graduated from Poway High in 2008 and is currently a student in the transition program at AbraxasHigh School in Poway, Ca. Where he is learning independence, living skills and gaining job experiences
When the PBTF was started in 1991, the diagnosis of a brain tumor was virtually a death sentence for a child. Because there was very little research being done into the disease, most treatments were ineffective or harsh, and most children did not survive to adulthood. The PBTF has worked hard to change that reality. Researchers are developing new therapies that extend the lives of children, and we believe that their work will ultimately lead to a cure for this most devastating of childhood cancers. As the world's largest non-governmental source of funding for childhood brain tumor research, they are dedicated to not only eradicating this disease, but to providing support to families like ours. Their educational resources deliver comfort and hope to families in need of information, and their college scholarship program gives brain tumor survivors a boost for the future.
Why we are doing this?.... RESEARCH so we can find a cure. David is currently participating in a new drug study at UCLA to hopefully reduce the size of these tumors, which is especially important for children, who like him, have brain tumors from Tuberous Sclerosis. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in many different organs, primarily in the brain, eyes, heart, kidney, skin and lungs. Together, we're making a difference in the lives of children with brain tumors. And with your help, we will cure the kids!
On the day of the ride: David with other survivors will be the Stars of the event, as they are escorted on a ride in a side car, trike or the back of a motorcycle. A celebration of life ceremony honoring the "Stars", will take place as the highlight of the event. If you have not already exhausted your 2010 charitable giving, we would greatly appreciate your support for this worthy cause.
This year I am the patient family liaison on the task force, which means I will help other kids and their families take part in the ride.
So please help us and so many others like us with a small donation. Even 1.00 helps. If you'd like to mail in a check instead of donating on the website make it payable to the PBTF and mail to: David Kaufman, 12634 Mustang Drive, Poway, CA92064. Please pass this along to as many people as possible. Oh and even if you can't afford to donate, it's still a very cool thing to participate in. Lot's of way's to do so, like volunteering or if you ride then come ride with me.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sincerely,
David Samuel Kaufman
Miriam Kaufman
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support our fundraising efforts.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
***This year we are dedicating our fundraising to the memory of Mike Traynor, co-founder of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. A great man who possessed a vision and passion that is very special and so very rare. He was driven to eradicate this deadly disease and we will help to carry the torch as best we can in memory of Mike and for THE KIDS!.