We Have The Watch

Christopher Jon Snyder passed away peacefully, after a grueling battle with Glioblastoma, on September 13, 2020, at the age of 71 surrounded by his loving family. Chris led an honorable and dignified life helping those he met with a magnetic smile and a warm heart. His family was devastated to see how Glioblastoma stole his essence and abruptly ended his life after a nine-month fight with the disease.

On a long walk trying to cope and remember the good memories of Dad, I started batting around ideas on running again to help with the coping,  but also thinking about how I could raise awareness and possibly bring in donations for Brain Cancer Research.  How could I do this?  My mother had come across a great charity named Adding Candles.

Their Mission is:  To end brain cancer by supporting research.

Adding Candles is a grassroots volunteer organization formed to support brain cancer research.  It began when a small group of people noticed an alarming number of friends and family stricken with brain cancer – a supposedly rare form of cancer. The more we investigated, the more we realized our experiences were not unique.  However, we also learned that research for effective treatments and a cure for brain tumors is seriously underfunded, especially compared to many other forms of cancer.

Their goal is to “add candles,” i.e., to increase the years a patient will live with brain cancer; and hopefully find a cure. We are increasing awareness and raising money for research through a variety of fund-raising events.  All proceeds from Adding Candles events go to brain cancer research at the Wilmot Cancer Institute of the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY to aggressively seek effective treatments for brain cancer, and to ultimately find a cure for this dreadful disease.

I decided, along with my 14 year old son, to begin training for the 2021 Marine Corp Marathon and we will try to raise funds and awareness on brain cancer in the process.  Join us on our journey, one step at a time!