Cantor Fitzgerald Family Proves That Hope Triumphs Over Multiple Tragedies.
Justin's Hope Fund, a restricted fund for research at Children's Brain Tumor Foundation will be added to the list of beneficiaries of Cantor Fitzgerald's 2010 Charity Day on Monday, September 13th.
Online, September 8, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Justin's Hope Fund, a restricted fund for research at Children's Brain Tumor Foundation will be added to the list of beneficiaries of Cantor Fitzgerald's 2010 Charity Day on Monday, September 13th. Charity Day was created as Cantor Fitzgerald, the worst hit company, re-built following the World Trade Center attacks.
The terrible losses experienced by Cantor Fitzgerald families on 9/11 echoed five years later for one family. Tom Strada was killed on 9/11 at Cantor Fitzgerald, just four days after his wife Terry gave birth to their son, Justin. Five years later tragedy struck again when Justin was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Though not fatal, Justin's tumor required surgery and nearly two years of chemotherapy, with further treatment still to come. Yet, in testament to their resilience borne of tragedy, Terry and Justin now work together to raise money for children's brain tumor research. Today, their extended Cantor Fitzgerald family along with its affiliate, BGC Partners, has added support to these efforts.
Justin's Hope Fund was established by Terry Strada as a restricted fund for research at Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, a New York City based non-profit organization. The fund exclusively supports the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium. This Consortium of pediatric hospitals nationwide will transform children's brain tumor research by acquiring, analyzing, and developing clinical models of treatment for this deadliest children's cancer which afflicts 3400 children in the United States each year. Nearly one-third of those diagnosed die within five years, and most of the 25,000 survivors contend with "late effects" ranging from cognitive impairment to physical limitations to social isolation.
According to Terry, "I knew once Justin had survived his initial treatments that I had to act to ensure his future and the future of all children facing the same obstacles. Through my friendship with Bob Budlow, Chair of Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, I found a way to help which ensures that money I raise will make a genuine difference in the prospects for these children."
Bob Budlow added, "Terry, Justin, and Cantor Fitzgerald are helping Children's Brain Tumor Foundation lead this critical research effort. Our investment is transformative for the pediatric brain tumor research field; by acquiring thousands of samples from hospitals nationwide we enable unprecedented scope of analysis. We know from the success seen in other diseases that tissue sample volume is the critical element of success, and the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium will accomplish this. We can't thank Cantor Fitzgerald and BCG Partners enough for including Justin's Hope Fund in their Charity Day efforts."
About Children's Brain Tumor Foundation
Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, based in New York, NY, was founded in 1988 by a group of parents, physicians, and friends to improve the quality of life and long-term outlook for children with brain and spinal cord tumors through research, support, education, and advocacy to families and survivors. For more information about Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, please visit their Website www.cbtf.org.
For further information contact Joe Fay, Executive Director of Children's Brain Tumor Foundation at [email protected] or 212-448-9494, Bob Budlow, Board Chair of Children's Brain Tumor Foundation at [email protected] or 201-213-7722 or Terry Strada, Founder of Justin's Hope Fund at [email protected] or 973-945-7420.
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Tags: 9/11, brain tumor, cancer cure, CBTF, children's health