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Michael Walker's Reps For Retinoblastoma

Proceeds benefit Uplifting Athletes, Inc.

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Based on 21 reps, each worth $39.19

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12 pledgers

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PLEASE JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING RETINOBLASTOMA RESEARCH AND UPLIFTING ATHLETES BY PLEDGING FOR EVERY BENCH PRESS REP I COMPLETE AT THE BOSTON COLLEGE PRO DAY.​

My good friend Jake Olson is running a Reps For Retinoblastoma campaign to support a promising Retinoblastoma treatment led by Dr. Brenda Gallie and Uplifting Athletes, a non profit whose mission is to inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport. I have been inspired by Jake who has never let losing his eyesight to Retinoblastoma stop him from achieving his dreams. If you have not heard of Jake’s story, here is a piece on his incredible journey. Jake Olson ESPN Feature Video.

I want to do anything I can to help Jake and that is why I am asking you to support me as I launch my very own Reps For Retinoblastoma campaign!

Please join me in supporting Dr. Gallie’s Retinoblastoma Research and Uplifting Athletes by pledging for every bench press rep I perform (my goal is 18) at Boston College Pro Day on March March 20th.

Please join my team by making a pledge today!

How you can help

· Pledge for each bench press rep I perform at Boston College Pro Day.

· Make a one-time flat donation


About Retinoblastoma Research

Brenda L. Gallie, CM, OOnt, MD, FRCSC

  • Director, Retinoblastoma Program, Department Ophthalmology & Vision Science, SickKids Hospital, Toronto

  • Adjunct Scientist and Lead of Health Informatics Research, Techna Institute, University Health Network

  • Professor, Departments of Ophthalmology, Medical Biophysics, Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto

A. Linn Murphree, MD, FACS

  • Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Dr. Gallie and Dr. Murphree have each, and together, developed state-of-the-art care for retinoblastoma, serving children and families worldwide. For more than 40 years, their research has focused on knowledge to optimize care for retinoblastoma. Their studies revealed the essential genetic basis of cancer and delivered personalized medicine for families where awareness and resources can achieve 98% survival. Globally, 70% of children with retinoblastoma still die. To address this disparity, Dr. Gallie is implementing a novel retinoblastoma point-of-care database, DEPICT HEALTH, with the primary objective to enhance communication across each patient’s circle of care including parents and patients. DEPICT HEALTH will also capture high quality data to fuel unprecedented global research and support high-level evidence-based care.

Dr. Murphree advanced care for retinoblastoma patients in 2005 with the International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification (IIRC). This improved therapy choices by simply Grouping eyes with retinoblastoma based on the disease features that would best serve the whole child. For example, a “Group A” eye could be treated with only focal therapy (laser or freezing), but a “Group E” eye was dangerous to life and needed to be removed. The IIRC classification has now evolved, with evidence, into the Tumor/Node/Metastasis cancer staging, with “H” for heritability a unique addition for retinoblastoma (TNMH).

For more than 20 years, Dr. Murphree worked to deliver chemotherapy to the eye by diffusion from a device outside the eye, to avoid the nasty side-effects of chemotherapy given intravenously. In June 2018, Linn told me that the “Chemoplaque” had received Federal Drug Administration approval. With approval from Health Canada for emergency use of the Chemoplaque, two children in imminent danger of each losing their only eyes, that had failed all conventional therapies have been treated with the Chemoplaque. The tumors rapidly resolved and the children experienced no toxicity or pain. The Chemoplaques were easy to insert and remove after 70 days. Each eye has received further therapies, made possible by the Chemoplaque. We remain optimistic they can be saved.

We are now initiating a formal clinical trial to evaluate the full role of the Chemoplaque, using DEPICT HEALTH for eligibility and follow-up data. Clinical Trials have rarely succeeded in retinoblastoma because of disease complexity and rareness but are essential to fully evaluate efficacy and safety of a new therapy. The organization and oversight of a Clinical Trial has significant cost.

In summary, the preliminary results of the Chemoplaque in two eyes of two children are remarkable and game changing. We predict that this new ocular drug delivery system will be transformative in retinoblastoma and ophthalmology.


About Uplifting Athletes

A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Uplifting Athletes inspires the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans and typically lacks financial incentive to make and market new treatments.

Uplifting Athletes fulfills its mission through a network of college football student-athlete led chapters, Uplifting Ambassadors and Team UA participants. Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $4.5 million in support of the Rare Disease Community with a third of that, $1.5 million, given to fund rare disease research.


Proceeds

Funds raised up to US$200,000 will be split 50/50 between Retinoblastoma research supporting Dr. Brenda Gallie and Uplifting Athletes. For proceeds above and beyond US$200,000, 80% will be directed towards Dr. Brenda Gallie’s research and 20% will be directed to support Uplifting Athletes and their mission to inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport.

Thank you for your support,

Michael Walker

Schedule

DateNamerepsEarned
3/20Boston College Pro Day21$823

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Uplifting Athletes, Inc.

This campaign benefits

Uplifting Athletes, Inc.

Verified Charity

Uplifting Athletes is a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases.

Contributions made to this campaign are tax-deductible.

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