Miles for Hope Brain Tumor Awareness
MILES FOR HOPE TO BREAK WORLD
RECORD FOR BRAIN TUMOR AWARENESS
Miles for Hope, a non-profit organization, dedicated to raising funds to
find a cure for brain tumors, has partnered with the Dunedin Blue Jays and
AirTran Airways to bring you a Guinness World Record Breaking event
“Together In Hope” candlelight vigil. All proceeds from this event will be
used to expand existing brain tumor vaccine trials and provide travel
assistance to qualified patients enrolled in clinical trials.
“Together In Hope” is being held in
conjunction with the Dunedin Blue Jays’ at Dunedin Stadium for Opening Day on
April 10, with gates opening at 6 pm. The candlelight vigil will be held
immediately following the game and will attempt to break a Guinness World Record
for most simultaneously lit candles at a single venue. Following the vigil the
Dunedin Blue Jays will have their first Post Game Firework Show of the season.
Tickets are only $8 and will include a ticket to the Dunedin Blue Jays home
opener against the Clearwater Threshers, a “Together In Hope” candle, matches
and a commemorative keepsake, as well as the Firework Show. Seating at the
stadium will be limited and are available for advanced purchase at
www.milesforhope.org/tih.php. “We expect this game and event to sell out
quickly,” said Barb Gibbs, Executive Director of Miles for Hope. “We strongly
suggest that you reserve your tickets early.”
“The Blue Jays are very proud to be
a part of this event. Opening Day is always an exciting time of year for us, so
to partner with Miles For Hope to help raise funds for this important cause
makes it even more exciting,” said Janette Donoghue, Assistant General Manager
of the Blue Jays.
“In another effort to increase
awareness about brain tumors, we have also created a “Virtual Vigil” for those
who are unable to attend the “Together In Hope” event. We hope to have a minimum
of one million people visit the virtual vigil and learn about brain tumors, and
how they can help in finding a cure for this disease. The virtual vigil is
online and active, and can be accessed at
www.milesforhope.org/vigil said Robert Gibbs.
Miles for Hope attempts to bridge
the gap between vaccine trials and those who are unable to travel for the trials
or are unaware of them altogether. “History dictates that vaccines have cured
and prevented many diseases,” said Gibbs, a brain tumor survivor and founder of
Miles for Hope. “Therefore, it’s critical that we do our best to make the public
aware of the importance of funding these trials.”
“Together In Hope” is the second
event in what the Gibbs’ hope will be an ongoing series of public events to help
raise awareness and money in order to fight this deadly form of disease. “There
are over 120 different types of brain tumors, making effective treatment very
difficult,” said Barb Gibbs. “There are over 1,000,000 people living in the
United States with brain tumors. Dealing with the symptoms of a brain tumor can
be difficult. Oftentimes, the hope for a cure is what keeps many brain tumor
patients going.”
Miles for Hope was founded by brain
tumor survivor Robert Gibbs and his wife Barb. Gibbs was diagnosed with a Grade
II brain tumor in 2004. He has had to undergo two brain surgeries, his second
surgery in 2008 revealed the cancer had become more aggressive, now a Grade III
cancer. This qualified him to participate in an existing clinical trial at UCLA.
He is now receiving an innovative brain cancer vaccine developed by his doctor,
UCLA neurosurgeon Dr. Linda Liau. So far the vaccine has showed remarkable
results for Gibbs. The Gibbs’ devote all their energy to finding a cure for
brain cancer. It is this devotion that led to the creation of Miles for Hope.
In addition to the support of
AirTran Airways, the Gibbs’
hope to attract more sponsors to support upcoming events. As part of their
support, AirTran has donated flights to Miles For Hope air passage to qualified
brain tumor patients who need to travel in order to participate in clinical
trials.
“We are in this for the long haul,”
said Robert Gibbs. “No donation is too small, because every dollar brings us
closer to finding a cure for this otherwise terminal disease.”
Barb Gibbs
Website:
www.MilesForHope.org
Phone: 727-647-6548
Thank you
for visiting Miles for Hope on Go Local Tampa Bay! |
