• SAN JOSE 2019 WALK FOR A CURE A SUCCESS!

    Thank you to all who supported the 2019 GCRF Walk For A Cure in San Jose. Organizers of the Walk in the photo above: (l-r) Tania Stutman, Dina Wiley, Dr. Michael Heinrich, OHSU, John and Martha Zelinsky, Liz Chew, coordinator and Robert Stutman. Save the dates for the NY Walk: October 11, 2020 and San Jose: October 18, 2020.
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  • GCRF REACHES $11 MILLION DOLLARS IN DONATIONS. 100% OF THE FUNDS GO TO GIST CANCER RESEARCH!

    Since its inception in 2001, the GIST Cancer Research Fund has been relentless in its efforts to find a cure for GIST Cancer. We are proud to announce a major milestone in donations reaching $11 million dollars. The most important part of the achievement is that 100% of all the funds raised went to GIST Cancer Research. In 17 years, our GIST Cancer Doctors and researchers have made major strides in finding a cure. Perhaps, in a few more years, a cure will be found for this deadly cancer.

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  • DR. CRISTINA ANTONESCU & DR. PING CHI, MSKCC PRESENT VIDEO ON LATEST GIST CANCER RESEARCH

    Watch the presentation by Dr. Cristina R. Antonescu and Dr. Ping Chi on their ongoing research for GIST Cancer at their Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center lab.
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  • SAVE THE DATE FOR TEAM TURANO'S 5TH ANNUAL GCRF FUNDRAISER

    The Turano Family’s 5th Annual GIST Cancer Research Fundraiser will be held on September 12, 2020. The Turano Family and Friends continue to raise funds for GIST Cancer Research. Their tireless efforts have raised close to $100,000 for GIST Cancer Research. Mark your calendar for this fantastic event.
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  • Long-Term Survival Rates For GIST Patients

    The SWOG study shows strong long-term survival rates for patients with GIST. "This is a really exciting finding," said Dr. Michael Heinrich, a SWOG investigator and a professor of medicine and cell and developmental biology at Oregon Health & Science University, where SWOG is based.
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  • Supporting The GIST Cancer Team of Doctors, Researchers & Nurses

    GCRF is committed to supporting the GIST Cancer Team of Doctors, Researchers and Nurses who have dedicated their lives to the treatment and cure of this deadly cancer.
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FDA Approval Of AYVAKIT™ (Avapritinib), The First Approved Precision Therapy For GIST

AYVAKIT™ (avapritinib) logo

The FDA granted a full approval to AYVAKIT™ (avapritinib) based on efficacy results from the Phase 1 NAVIGATOR clinical trial, as well as combined safety results from multiple clinical trials for avapritinib. Blueprint Medicines Corporation (NASDAQ: BPMC), a precision therapy company focused on genomically defined cancers, rare diseases and cancer immunotherapy announced that AYVAKIT™ (avapritinib) is used for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) harboring a platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) exon 18 mutation, including PDGFRA D842V mutations. AYVAKIT is the first precision therapy approved to treat a genomically defined population of patients with GIST. Blueprint Medicines plans to make AYVAKIT available in the U.S. within a week.

For more detailed information on AYVAKIT™ (avapritinib), click on the following link:
FDA Approval AYVAKIT™

Start The New Year By Giving. Donate Now!

Live every day like it is a holiday, be thankful, cherish your loved ones and look hopefully to the future when GIST Cancer is cured!

Please accept our deepest appreciation for all you have done for GCRF throughout 2019. We thank you for all your time and countless acts of kindness.

May 2020 bring you and your family good health, happiness and prosperity. Please remember that there is still time to donate in 2019. Your generosity helps to save lives and find a cure for GIST Cancer.

Happy New Year From The GCRF Board of Directors:

Tania Stutman, Chairperson
Robert Stutman, Director, Treasurer
Pamela Fedowich, Director
Wendy Kapiloff, Director
Mark Landesman, Director
Bruce Torrey, Director
Karen Turano, Director
Angelo Turano, Director
William Price, Director, Posthumous Emeritus

GIST 2019 NY Walk For A Cure

The 2019 GCRF Walk For A Cure in New York was held on September 22, 2019 at Rockland Lake State Park. Thanks to all who attended and helped to save lives.

GIST - A Rare Orphan Cancer

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor or GIST is a rare, orphan cancer which starts in a type of tissue called the stromal or the body’s connective tissue (fat, muscle, blood vessels, deep skin tissues, nerves, bones or cartilage). GIST is a silent cancer often spreading before the patient has symptoms. Each year, approximately 5,000 adults in the United States alone are diagnosed with GIST Cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, many doctors misdiagnose GIST as another type of GI cancer. The lifesaving treatment for GIST is delayed and the GIST Cancer destroys lives. The overall five year survival rate of people diagnosed with a malignant tumor has been estimated to be 76%.

Looking For A GIST Cancer Doctor?

GIST is a rare form of cancer that most doctors misdiagnose or are not familiar with the appropriate treatment. If you or a loved-one is diagnosed with GIST, getting in touch with a physician who specializes in GIST Cancer is of utmost importance. These doctors and researchers deal with this disease on a daily basis and can help guide you to the right treatment.

In addition to the GIST Cancer Research Team of physicians, researchers and nurses, the following link will put you in touch with domestic and international GIST Cancer specialists.

GIST Specialists

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Honors The GCRF On Its Donor Wall in New York City

In 2012, The GIST Cancer Research Fund and Robert and Tania Stutman were honored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for GCRF’s generous donations given for GIST Cancer Research. Their names were etched into MSKCC’s donor wall for posterity. For almost twenty years, The GIST Cancer Research Fund has been tirelessly fighting to raise funds to eradicate this deadly disease with no staff, corporate headquarters or overhead. Since 2002, the foundation has raised more than $10 million and MSK has been the beneficiary of $1.6 million. Events including walkathons, 1,000-mile Cycling for a Cure bike rides, golf outings and galas now span the nation. (Other GCRF beneficiaries include Fox Chase, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Oregon Health Sciences University Cancer Institute, and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.) At MSK, the GCRF supports the work of Dr. Antonescu and Dr. Ping Chi.

Robert and Tania Stutman join the generous philantropists including Susan G. Komen, who donate to MSKCC. The GCRF has raised $10 million dollars for GIST Cancer Research and has given 100% of these fund to finding a cure for GIST Cancer. As Tania Stutman said, ‘I’m not only battling for my life, I’m fighting for the lives of others.’”

Tania’s Story and the Formation of the GIST Cancer Research Fund

“I started with just a little website,” Tania says. “I went on local radio. I went to our local paper and told them my story.” In 2001, she held her first walkathon and raised $23,000. In 2018, the foundation has raised more than $10 million dollars and every penny has gone to GIST Cancer Research.

GCRF Proclamation

United States Senator, Charles “Chuck” Schumer graciously acknowledged the GIST Cancer Research Fund with a proclamation for the importance of the numerous contributions that the GIST Cancer Research Fund and the Walk For A Cure has made to find a cure for GIST Cancer.

MAJOR GIST EVENTS FOR 2020

WALKS FOR A CURE
NEW YORK WALK • October 11, 2020 • Contact Tania at 305-944-4590
SAN JOSE WALK • October 18, 2020 • Contact Liz at 408-712-2464
WASHINGTON WALK (YAKIMA) • April 25, 2020
Contact Tempest at 509-834-8857

TEAM TURANO MAJOR NJ FUNDRAISER
TEAM TURANO'S SILENT AUCTION • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
Dinner & Raffles of hundreds of valuable gifts
A REAL FUN EVENING • Contact Karen at 973-222-6790
                         
If you cannot attend any of these events, please be generous
and show your support by making a donation. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
'                                                                 

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s 2019 GIST Education Conference & Luncheon

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute & the GIST Cancer Research Fund held a one‐day education conference on May 7 in Portland, Oregon. The conference highlighted the advancements in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) Research. Among the presenters was OHSU’s Dr. Brian Druker, developer of the drug Gleevec, Dr. Chris Corless and Dr. Michael Heinrich. A special presentation was given by Dr. Brian Druker to celebrate Tania Stuntman’s 70th birthday. After 21 years since she received her GIST Cancer diagnosis, she is still fighting and keeping hope alive.

Walt "Clyde" Frazier, GCRF's Distinguished Spokesperson

Walt Frazier is a two-time NBA champion with the New York Knicks, a seven-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. His retired No. 10 Knicks jersey is hanging in the rafters in Madison Square Garden. The NBA veteran is also known to be the GCRF's very own spokesperson. Walt has attended the GCRF New York Walk For A Cure for 18 years. His loyalty and commitment to GIST Cancer Research is relentless and he always finds the time to "be there" for the GIST Cancer Research Fund in good times and bad. Thank you Walt for all you have done and know that we hold a special place for you in our hearts!

Welcome to the Heinrich-Corless Research Lab

A look behind the scenes in the lab of Dr. Michael Heinrich and Dr. Chris Corless at the Oregon Health & Science Center/Knight Cancer Institute. Here is an overview of the current research being performed to find a cure for GIST Cancer.

Dr. Jonathan Fletcher Emphasizes Enormous Impact that GCRF has on GIST Cancer Research

Dr. Jonathan Fletcher (The Fletcher Laboratory at Brigham And Women's Hospital) emphasized the GIST Cancer Research Fund's added value of supporting GIST research. Not only that all the support flows to the research labs, but also that each gift supports important research right now ... while also enabling talented young physician-scientists to establish careers in GIST research. In that sense, all donations are truly gifts that keep on giving and have a very high impact on development of new GIST therapies.

Save Lives And Show Your Feelings About GIST Cancer

GCRF has GIST Cancer Bracelets, Ribbons and T-Shirts available for sale. By wearing and displaying them, you are spreading a message and awareness to find a cure for this rare cancer.

Donate today to spread awareness and find a cure! To Purchase, Click On The Button Below.

amazon_smile

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the Gist Cancer Research Fund every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Please support GCRF when you shop on Amazon!

IN MEMORY OF

Cameron Gow

January 14, 1957 - February 19, 2018

HONOR MY LIFE BY LIVING YOURS!

Fox Chase Cancer Center Applauds GCRF For Its Generous Support

Margaret von Mehren, MD, Chief, Division of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Lori Rink, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Martin Belinsky, Ph.D., Staff Scientist discuss the strides in finding a cure for GIST Cancer which were made possible by the GIST Cancer Research Fund.

Special Thanks To Our 2019 GCRF San Jose Walk For A Cure Sponsor

Elisabeth Andreason, Executive Director of The Andreason Group at Morgan Stanley, a financial advising and investing group located in Walnut Creek, California, generously donated $5,000 to the 2019 San Jose Walk For A Cure. 100% of this donation will go directly to the GIST Cancer Doctors and Research labs to keep hope alive to find a cure. Thank you very much Elizabeth and Morgan Stanley!