LIGHT UP THE LAB

A YEAR-END FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR THE CHILDREN’S BRAIN TUMOR PROJECT FOUNDATION AT WEILL CORNELL

Each year, we hang strings of lights in the lab hallway to honor children who have battled brain cancer. This heartfelt tradition serves as a powerful reminder that behind every scientific breakthrough is a child whose life could be forever changed. The hallway features photos of patients who lost their lives to a brain tumor; all of whom were treated by Dr. Mark Souweidane and Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield, co-founders of the Children’s Brain Tumor Project Laboratory. We have included some of their patient stories below and we hope you will help us honor them by making a contribution.

This year, we aim to reach our goal of $100,000 to offset the government budget cuts that have impacted our research (and research across the country). Now more than ever, your support is critical. Every tax-deductible contribution — big or small — will help fuel discoveries that bring brighter futures within reach.

Thank you for honoring our children, supporting our progress, and helping us continue lighting the way toward better treatments and brighter tomorrows.

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WE’RE LIGHTING UP THE LAB IN MEMORY OF KAI

Kai Brown Coley was a beloved patient of Dr. Jefferey Greenfield. In recent years, he participated in the Light Up the Lab campaign and shared his remarkable talent by performing one of his original compositions at our No Laughing Matter event in 2023. We are heartbroken to share that Kai lost his life in August to ependymoma, a recurrent brain tumor he had courageously battled since his 2019 diagnosis. We honor his memory by lighting up the lab—a symbol of the light he brought to all of us and the hope we continue to build for children like Kai through our work.

LIGHT UP THE LAB FOR LUCAS

Lucas was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a universally terminal brain tumor, in July of 2008. He was 12 years old. Lucas was a gifted scholar and athlete. He worked hard at being a goalie for premiere club team FC Westchester and a catcher for his local club baseball team, both of which prepared him for the biggest fight of his life. Fearless and courageous, Lucas was determined to live fully with time he had.  And he did… “Mom, I’ve lived more in my 14 years than most have in a lifetime.”  This was Lucas.  He believed cancer made him a better person.

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LIGHT UP THE LAB FOR CHASE, ELIZABETH, AND FIONA

In support of the Light up the Lab year-end appeal, we are sharing a video that was previously recorded to reflect on the importance of tissue donation, and how three of our patient families feel about the important role it serves in researching pediatric brain tumors. Chase, Fiona, and Elizabeth lost their lives to rare pediatric gliomas, and their moms advocate for post-mortem tissue donation to guide research. The CBTP Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine has since been named a Regional Center of Excellence in the Gift from a Child program, enabling us to coordinate post-mortem tissue donations across the country. Help us Light up the Lab in memory of Chase, Fiona, and Elizabeth by making a donation today.

Chase’s mom also wrote a blog about the donation experience that you can read here.

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