Marlene Moran has known more people diagnosed with glioblastoma brain tumors than she’d like to — friends, family members and, most prominently, her late husband Jack.
“When Jack was diagnosed in 2016, he was told he had six months to live,” says Marlene, of Wilmington, Massachusetts. “He lived for three more years, fighting tooth and nail, thanks to his cancer care team at Mass General. Every single person we met at Mass General was amazing, and it was thanks to their help and support during the worst time in my life that I was able to manage it all.”
In the wake of Jack’s death, Marlene dedicated herself to raising money for glioblastoma research at Massachusetts General Hospital, specifically for the work of neurosurgeon Brian Nahed, MD, MSC, neuro-oncologist and supportive care researcher Deborah Forst, MD, and researcher Shannon Stott, PhD — the world-class care team that afforded her three more years with her partner.
“I decided, as Jack’s best friend, I would fight like he did and give back to Mass General what they gave to us,” she says.
“It’s a sign.”
On a weekend after Jack had passed, Marlene and her family gathered at her sister’s house on Cape Cod.
“One afternoon, my nephews went golfing and found a golf ball of Jack’s that he had left there with his initials scrawled on it in his signature style,” she says. “At that moment, they said, ‘We have to put on a golf tournament in honor of Uncle Jack.’ And we did.”
Jack’s friends and family organized the inaugural event, the Jack Moran Memorial Golf Tournament, later that fall and its success inspired the group to form the Jack Moran Charitable Foundation, with Jack’s brother-in-law serving as the Foundation’s certified public accountant, his best friend stepping in as its attorney and another friend donating event-branded, embroidered t-shirts. They also immediately began planning the tournament for the following year.
This year, the family held their 4th Annual Jack Moran Memorial Golf Tournament, raising funds for Jack’s team at Mass General.
A Special Connection
Each year, Jack’s care team attends the tournament, which holds deep meaning for Marlene. And, every year when Dr. Stott takes the stage to speak about her research, the crowd becomes enthralled. “When she starts explaining where the money is going, this rowdy group of golfers fall completely silent in awe,” Marlene says.
For Marlene, the event also reflects Jack’s goofy side and playful relationship with Dr. Forst. She recalls how he would find any opportunity to make Dr. Forst laugh through jokes and pranks when he was under her care. Once, following a Patriots Super Bowl win, Jack shaved “Patriots stripes” into his eyebrows before an appointment. “ Jack loved Dr. Forst so much — they had such a special bond,” she says.
At the first tournament she attended, Dr. Forst spoke about how much she missed Jack through tears.
“Jack had a fantastic sense of humor, an award-winning smile and a zest for life,” says Dr. Forst. “He died far too young after a valiant battle with brain cancer, leaving an irreparable hole in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.”
Making Noise
Marlene emphasizes not only the importance of Mass General’s research in the effectiveness of targeted, noninvasive therapies for glioblastoma, but also the work being done by Dr. Forst and her team around how to best care for patients with a terminal diagnosis.
“There’s nothing worse than living with a death sentence,” Marlene says. “So, making Dr. Forst’s multidisciplinary care more widely available would make such a difference to glioblastoma patients and their loved ones.”
To do so, Marlene has used other methods, in addition to the tournament, to boost their fundraising, including a 50/50 raffle in partnership with the Boston Bruins Foundation and an online silent auction.
“Thanks to the determination and dedication of the amazing Marlene Moran, the Jack Moran Charitable Foundation has raised $56,000 and counting to support our work at Mass General.” Dr. Forst says.
Drs. Forst, Nahed and Stott are putting the funds toward developing and refining minimally invasive techniques to detect and monitor brain cancer, including in blood and spinal fluid samples, and toward efforts to enhance psychosocial support and improve quality of life for patients with brain cancer and their family caregivers.
“Jack inspired all of us with his strength, optimism and courage,” says Dr. Nahed. “With the support of Marlene and the Jack Moran Charitable Foundation, Dr. Stott and I have made incredible findings which we are excited to publish this year.”
“The progress being made at Mass General and the knowledge that the funds we raise keeps it going, motivates me to put on this tournament every year,” Marlene says. “I work hard to raise awareness and garner support from bigger donors and more local businesses each year, and the only way to do that is to make noise. So, we’ll keep making noise.”
To learn more about the Jack Moran Charitable Foundation, click here.
To support glioblastoma brain tumor research at Mass General Cancer Center, contact us.
