Stories from the Community

Meet a few of the BeCause fundraisers who inspire us every day.

• Maddie Schiller (left) with her dog, Slater, and older brother, Cole Schiller. Maddie, who has leukemia, is raising money for families facing cancer and financial difficulties.
  Inspired by Nurses, Teen Helps Families Facing Cancer
• Deleena Therien with her daughter, Ivy Nguyen, who has Myhre syndrome, a rare disorder.
  Finding Help for Ivy
• Jason Gibson raised money for his family's friend, Chris Smith, by holding a fishing fundraiser.
  Teen Reels in Funds to Help Advance ALS Research
• Before being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, Jacqui Lewis (center) traveled often with her son, Evan Lewis, and daughter, Anjelina Lewis, including to Machu Picchu in Peru.
  Changing the Odds for Rare Cancers
• A young Zack Johnson with his father, Jeff, at his Canandaigua, NY home. Photo by Pamela C Johnson.
  Son Honors Father’s Positive Spirit in Fight against Rare Cancer
• Grace Elmer and her mother, Kara Elmer, at the 2020 annual Breast Friends Walk in Marblehead, Massachusetts, which was held virtually.
  Teen Organizes Annual Walk to Fight Breast Cancer
• Joe Gambill lost his battle with brain cancer on Jan. 13, 2017.
  My Husband’s Journey with Brain Cancer
• Jay Boyle and his wife, Julie.
  Raising Awareness and Funds for Prostate Cancer Research
• Today, one-year-old Gavin is full of energy!
  Preemie Parents Honor Son’s First Birthday with Fundraiser
• (L-R) Alex Linden, Christine Treseler, Delmis Urquiza, Jess Garton, her son Quinlan and Caitlin Miller at a Marathon fundraiser in February, the only event they were able to work on together before COVID-19.
  Running Marathons for Delmis and Cystic Fibrosis
• Team Abby Mac is made up of Greg MacCurtain and his nine-year-old daughter, Abby. The father-daughter running team started when Abby was five.
  Boston Marathon Runner Supports Mitochondrial Research
• Michaela McLaughlin inspired her friends and family through her kindness.
  Sorority Honors Sister, Raises Funds for Cancer
• L-R: Jalen, Edward, Xavier, Mackinaw and Carrie Weatherhead.
  Changing the Odds for Kids with Cancer in Uganda
• Just two of the more than 1,000 people who competed in the 2019 Renegade Run that raised $25,000 for the Faustman Lab. Photo: Amanda Kowalski
  Obstacle Course Race Bolsters Type 1 Diabetes Research
• L-R: Kristen Curran, Andrew Curran, Victoria Kane, Elizabeth Schwartz, Tom Curran, Liz Curran at the Ugly Christmas Sweater Bar Crawl in December. Photo: Amanda Kowalski
  Ugly Sweater Event Aids Corrigan Minehan Heart Center
• Erin Finelli on the run at the Mom Ball: Battle for the Battle! flag football game at the Pingree School in South Hamilton.
  Moms Play Flag Football for Breast Cancer Research
• Since Quinn was a baby, his grandmother Marian DiFiglia, PhD, a Mass General researcher, has been there to support him.
  Researcher Studies Grandson’s Rare Genetic Mutation
• Clockwise from left: Russ, Lauren, Patrick, Rose and Liam Doherty.
  Lemonade Stand Helps Fight Crohn’s Disease
• An MGHfC volunteer and the creator of “Journals of Hope” program, Faith Wilcox helps patients and families find light in dark moments.
  A Mother Turns Personal Loss into Journals of Hope
• Riders braved intense heat and humidity to take part in the 2019 Granite State Quest fundraising ride, held in late July.
  Granite State Quest Ride Unites People, For Good
• Lisa Sisco looks closely at cell samples with Nabeel Bardeesy, PhD, during a tour of the lab.
  Bracelet Sales Fund Cholangiocarcinoma Research
• Caring For A Cure co-directors from left, Laura White, RN, Sara Stevens, NP, Molly Higgins, RN, and Christine Weiand, RN. (Photo by Hillary Deane Photography)
  Caring For A Cure Enriches Lives. Period.
• Benjamin Metsch (center), with his parents, Renee Metsch and David Metsch, held a basketball tournament to raise money for breast cancer research at Mass General.
  Teenager Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Research
• Athi Myint-U and Steven Isakoff, MD, PhD, hit the dance floor at Athi's Hair Raising 80s Dance Party fundraiser, where more than $10K was raised for the scalp cooling program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Photo: Amanda Kowalski
  A Hair-Raising Attempt to Support Patients with Cancer
• Members of Mass General’s BeCause fundraising community came together for the 10th Annual Toast to Our Fundraising Community event on May 9, 2019.
  Mass General Celebrates BeCause Fundraising Community
• Pediatric Palliative Care's Patricia O'Malley, MD, frequently looked in on Lulu Eugene, who spent nearly a year of early life in MassGeneral Hospital for Children.
  Fund Helps Parents Be with Their Hospitalized Child
• Participants in the charity ride (back row, from left) Douglas Tulman, Justin Tulman, Wendy Tulman, Emily Katz, Kay Liscomb, (front row, from left) Rebecca Tulman, Maren Nyer, PhD, David Mischoulon, MD, PhD.
  Family and Friends Spin for Depression Program
• Caitlin and Rich Hill, with their son Brice, are happy
  to support the work of David Sweetser, MD, PhD
  (center, wearing tie), who helped
  solve their family’s genetic mystery.
  Season of Hope
• Nora Murphy and a group of volunteers are raising money to support Mass General research that could lead to an early, lifesaving test for ovarian cancer.
  Teacher with Ovarian Cancer Raises Funds for Early Detection
• The Boston Bolts are raising awareness of sports concussion and supporting research at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.
  Soccer Club Makes Sports Concussion Its Cause
• Elana Sargent presents a check for $1,500 to her father's neuro-oncologist, Dr. Tracy Batchelor, for glioblastoma research.
  Young Philanthropist Raises Funds for Brain Tumor Research
• From left, Chris and Stephanie Moschella and Julie and Kevin Joyce organize annual croquet tournaments to benefit pediatric epilepsy.
  Community Fundraisers Support Pediatric Epilepsy
• Kurt Power, a former Home Base patient and organizer of the No-Shave November campaign, spoke at A Toast to Our Fundraising Community.
  Mass General Gives a Toast to Its Fundraising Community
• Fred Young (left) was intuitive about people's needs and was always there for, among others, his daughter, Sarah (center) and his wife, Joy Stocke-Young (right). 
  Cancer Patient’s Determination Lives on in Research
• Caroline, Margot, Thomas and Kirsten Vaughan together last summer.
  Mastercard Dances for ALS Research
• Palliative care was invaluable to Dan Moran Sr. (back row, far right) and his family: (back row, from left) daughter-in-law Marie Moran, son Daniel Moran II, daughter Katie Moran Ellis and wife Fran, (front row, from left) grandchildren Makayla Ellis, Gracie Moran and Zachary Ellis.
  Son Supports Palliative Care in Dad’s Memory
• 
  Mass General Launches New Community Fundraising Program
• Joy Greene, a member of Mass General's fundraising community, shared the story behind her campaign supporting the Division of Burns.
  Mass General Celebrates Its Fundraising Community
• Judy Lipson skates in honor of her sisters and continues her family's long-term support for the John D. Stoeckle Center for Primary Care at Mass General.
  Family Legacy Supports Primary Care
• From left, Kitty Tetreault with Olympic swimmers Carlton Bruner, Kristy Kowal, Janel Jorgensen McArdle and Heather Petri.
  Swimmer Devoted to Pediatric Cancer Research
• Devyn Casey (center) her grandmother Caryn Casey, left, and oncologist Lecia Sequist, MD, MPH, join to support lung cancer research.
  Girl Starts Amazing Race for Lung Cancer Research
• The annual basketball event organized by Bob Forlenza has been raising funds to fight autism for 17 years.
  Grateful Dad Uses Basketball to Fight Autism
• 
  A Celebration to Support Patients and Families
• 
  Running to Raise Funds for Lymphedema Research
• Community fundraising can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
  MGH Community Fundraising Has Enduring Impact
• Katie and Noah Brandt
  Fundraiser Pushes Back Against Rare Brain Disease
• Maggie Berry (at right) participates in the art and music therapy program she founded for children in a cancer clinic in Uganda.
  Music Therapy Helps Hospitalized Kids in Uganda
• The Doherty family (from the left): mother Terry, sisters Rosie and Elizabeth and father Michael
  Exceptional Patient Runs Against Pediatric Epilepsy
• 
  Polo Match Supports Innovative Vaccine Research
• While visiting medical clinics in Uganda, Catherine, Lisa and James Mooney (left to right) witnessed the need for more healthcare resources.
  Teenager Helps African Children with Cancer
• Making Tracks for Celiacs is an annual fundraising event, which is organized and managed by the Center for Celiac Research & Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital.
  Walk or Run to Support Center for Celiac Research
• 
  A Ride to Conquer Cancer