“Mary was my life partner,” says Bill Park, of Marblehead, Massachusetts. “She was a devoted mother and wonderful person.”
In 2012, when she was 63, Mary started experiencing confusion. Concerned, she sought medical care, and doctors diagnosed her with glioblastoma, a rare and deadly type of brain cancer. “She only lived three weeks after the initial diagnosis,” says Bill.
At the time of Mary’s diagnosis, treatments could manage symptoms of glioblastoma, but there was no cure. Unfortunately, today, not much has changed; patients still face the same uphill battle Mary faced. But Bill is determined to change that.
With the help of his family, and fellow Marblehead resident Nate Walton, Bill leads Miles for Mary, an effort dedicated to raising awareness of brain cancer, advancing research and providing hope for patients and families fighting this devastating diagnosis.
Racing for a Cure
Each October, Miles for Mary hosts a 5K Run and Walk on Devereux Beach in Marblehead. Now in its 13th year, the event brings together friends, family, Marblehead neighbors and Boston-area community members to honor Mary’s memory and increase awareness of glioblastoma. The course, which boasts beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean, takes participants down the Marblehead causeway, around Marblehead Neck and back. To date, Miles for Mary has raised more than $750,000 for Massachusetts General Hospital.
“While our fundraising totals are modest in comparison to some of the large gifts
Mass General receives, oftentimes, big gifts come with restrictions,” says Bill. “Our funding is unrestricted, so it can fill holes wherever needed. Every dollar counts.”
Miles for Mary also hosts an annual research seminar for the community. Elizabeth Gerstner, MD, a Mass General neurooncologist, has been presenting at these sessions since they began in 2013.
“Glioblastoma tumors are difficult to treat in part because the brain is so good at protecting itself from poison,” says Dr. Gerstner, referring to the blood brain barrier that prevents most drugs from entering the brain and reaching tumor cells. “Given this challenge, new, groundbreaking discoveries are required to change the landscape of care.”
A Promising Combination
One Mass General program that has received support from Miles for Mary is an innovative phase I clinical trial known as INCIPIENT. The trial combines established CAR T-cell therapy with T-cell-engaging antibody molecules (called TEAMs), which help T-cells recognize cancer cells. Early results show the approach has great potential: Just days after a single treatment, patients experienced dramatic reductions in their tumors, with one achieving near-complete tumor regression.
“The results from the INCIPIENT trial are startling,” Bill says. “It makes me hopeful. A cure is not going to happen tomorrow, but I believe it’s on the horizon.”
“The support from Bill, Nate and the entire Miles for Mary community has been overwhelming,” says Dr. Gerstner. “Their efforts have been important not only in raising funds but also in raising awareness about this challenging disease, so we can continue to advance the care of patients with brain tumors.”
To learn more about how you can support glioblastoma research at Mass General, contact us.
