Voices Against Brain Cancer Brings The Fight For A Cure To Miami With Its Inaugural "Join The Voices!" Run/Walk

MIAMI, Feb. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Voices Against Brain Cancer, a national non-profit organization committed to finding a cure for brain cancer and brain tumors, is set to host its inaugural "Join the Voices! Miami Run/Walk" on Sunday, March 8^th at Tropical Park. The charitable event will feature a 5K run, 3K walk, family activities and live entertainment including the sounds of renowned DJ, Nayib Estefan. A special presentation will be dedicated to honoring the memory of former Florida teacher and author of "The Priority List," David Menasche, who recently lost his battle with brain cancer. Funds raised will go towards the advancement of brain cancer research, and all donations will be earmarked for the University of Miami's Brain Tumor Initiative and The Miami Children's Hospital Brain Cancer Initiative.

Voices Against Brain Cancer hosts Run/Walks across the nation in hopes to support the brain cancer community, create greater national awareness, and ultimately find a cure. During the inaugural Miami event, the Foundation will be honoring many local patients, caregivers, doctors and healthcare providers for their roles in the fight against this devastating disease.

The recipients of this year's Gary Lichtenstein Humanitarian Award are Ricardo J. Komotar, M.D., FAANS, Director of The University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative and Ziad A. Khatib, M.D., FAAP, Director of Neuro-Oncology, Miami Children's Hospital.

Additional award recipients include:

• Courage Award: Nicholas Barrett, Daniela George, Jayden Jorge (6 years old), Charles M. Naranjo, Juan C. Rodriguez & Henry Sanabria (17 years old)
• Caregiver Award: Sandy Dilbert, Lexie Jorge, Carlos D. Naranjo & Eilyn Sanabria
• Neurosurgeon Award: Roberto Heros, MD
• Neuro-Oncologist Award: Deborah Heros, MD
• Radiation Oncologist Award: Fazilat F. Ishkanian, MD
• Nurse Award: Christopher Espinosa, ARNP & Ester Rodriguez, RN
• Social Worker Award: Vanessa Ruiz, LCSW
• Patient Navigator Award: Heleven Delgado, RN, MSN
• Researcher Award: Regina M. Graham, PhD
• Pediatric Neurosurgeon Award: Sanjiv Bhatia, MD, Sarah Jernigan, MD & Toba Niazi, MD
• Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist Award: John M Goldberg, MD
• Pediatric Radiation Oncologist Award: Joseph Panoff, MD
• Pediatric Nurse Award: Myrna Colon, BSN, RN, Ana Diaz, ARNP, Claudia Garcia, ARNP & Sarah Taylor, BSN, RN, CPON
• Pediatric Social Worker Award: Oylime Fernandez, MSW, MBA, CSSGB
• Pediatric Patient Navigator Award: Kari Bollerman, Nicole Gonzalez & Claudia Vargas

"As Voices Against Brain Cancer continues to unite the brain cancer community around the country, we are proud to announce our first-ever Miami event," said Mario Lichtenstein, Co-Founder of Voices Against Brain Cancer. "We are honored that our national run/walks continue to give a voice to those afflicted by this devastating disease. Being that Miami is where I call home, I am very excited to share our mission to raise awareness and find a cure with the citizens of this great city. We've lost great minds to brain cancer, and we want everyone to come together to use theirs to find a cure."

Voices Against Brain Cancer, leaders in the brain cancer community, was founded in loving memory of Gary Lichtenstein, who lost his valiant battle with brain cancer on October 1, 2003. Since then, the organization has garnered support from other patients, survivors, their families, caregivers, prestigious doctors and celebrities, all united in their drive towards finding a cure for this devastating disease.  When asked what inspired him to organize VABC's national run/walks, Mario Lichtenstein notes, "I couldn't save the life of my son, but perhaps I can save the life of others."

"Participants of "Join the Voices! Miami Run/Walk" are encouraged to raise funds for Voices Against Brain Cancer. To make a donation, volunteer or participate in "Join the Voices! Miami," please visit: www.jointhevoicesmiami.org.  Registration begins at 7:00am, with start times beginning at 7:45am.

For press inquiries, please contact: 5W Public Relations.

About Voices Against Brain Cancer 
Voices Against Brain Cancer's (VABC) mission is to find a cure for brain cancer and brain tumors by advancing scientific research, increasing awareness, creating a brain cancer and tumor community, and supporting patients, their families and caregivers afflicted with this devastating disease.

Voices Against Brain Cancer was started in loving memory of Gary Lichtenstein who at 24 years old lost his battle with brain cancer on October 1, 2003. Gary was living in Chicago and working as an options trader at Wolverine Trading when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March of 2003. After three months of radiation, Gary slipped into a coma from which he did not recover. Soon after his passing, Gary's family started Voices Against Brain Cancer to raise money and awareness for the fight against this devastating disease.

"I couldn't save the life of my son, but perhaps I can save the life of others." 
-Mario Lichtenstein, Founder Of VABC

VABC has a wide variety of initiatives in motion for brain cancer research, awareness and support. The organization's research grants fund cutting-edge programs that will have a monumental impact on the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer and brain tumors. Currently, these grants are being funded at numerous esteemed institutions including: Baylor University, Boston Children's Hospital / Harvard, Brain Tumor Biotech Center / Feinstein Institute / North Shore LIJ Health System, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Central Brain Tumor Registry Of The United States, Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia,  Cleveland Clinic, Columbia, Cornell, Dana Farber / Harvard, Duke, The Feinstein Institute / North Shore LIJ Health System, Harvard, Hofstra / North Shore LIJ School Of Medicine, Johns Hopkins, Lenox Hill Hospital / North Shore LIJ Health System, Long Island Brain Tumor Center, NY, Lurie Children's Hospital / Northwestern, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard, MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Rush University, Stony Brook University, University Of California Davis, University Of California Irvine, University Of California Los Angeles, University Of California San Diego, University Of California San Francisco, University Of Chicago, University Of Michigan, University Of Pittsburgh, University Of Texas San Antonio, University Of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, Wake Forest, Washington University, Yale and more.

VABC extends throughout the international community and funds research in countries such as Australia, Canada, Israel, Spain and more. As part of the Foundation's commitment to "leave no stone unturned" in the search for a cure, VABC supports Cannabis Research and the exploration of the potential risks associated with Mobile Phone Radiation.

VABC continues to hold events across the country in locations such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Las Vegas, Long Island-New York, Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York City, New York City Half Marathon, New York City Marathon, North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

"We've Lost Great Minds To Brain Cancer. Use Yours To Help Us Find The Cure Today."
-Mario Lichtenstein, Founder Of VABC

Connect with VOICES: www.Facebook.com/VoicesAgainstBrainCancer

Visit VOICES: www.VoicesAgainstBrainCancer.org  

UM Brain Tumor Initiative
We are not just thinking more. We are thinking differently.
At UHealth, we think differently. Through our Brain Tumor Initiative, we are working toward developing new treatments for brain tumor patients. As part of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, our goal is to reduce the devastating burden of cancer through research, education, and delivery of the finest patient care.

Today, UHealth plays a vital role in the community thanks to our groundbreaking research and patient care for people in Florida, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. We are turning Miami into the healthcare capital of the Americas and, with your support, we will create one of the premier brain tumor centers in the country.

We are not just trying to improve lives. We are trying to save them.
Today, the Departments of Neurological Surgery and Neurology, together with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, offer diagnosis, treatment and the highest level of care for all types of brain tumors. Patients can access all treatment options such as surgical intervention, chemotherapy, radiation, cutting-edge clinical trials and conservative management. Procedures performed on both pediatric and adult patients use the most minimally invasive neurosurgery techniques, significantly reducing the impact on the patient and family's quality of life. We use awake craniotomies for complex tumors to preserve speech and language, with intra-operative cortical mapping of motor, sensory and language function. Only a handful of neurosurgeons in the United States perform this procedure.
The reality is that no two individual brain tumor patients respond the same way to treatment. The establishment of a comprehensive initiative enables our multidisciplinary team, with its broad range of specialists, to provide highly individualized diagnostic and treatment options.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150219/176640

SOURCE Voices Against Brain Cancer

Related Links

http://www.VoicesAgainstBrainCancer.org

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