here are just some of our reasons why
In Tribute to Billy Timson
Husband, father, son, brother, cousin, nephew, grandchild, friend, teammate, and co-worker, Billy shone in every role because of his fun-loving, adventurous nature and patient, genuine kindness.
He’s no longer with us, but his life was so full in those 29 years, having found his true love, soul mate, and adventure wife Dana, whom he married on a snow-dusted Pocasset jetty on a balmy 28-degree winter day. He was also a father and enjoyed spending time with his treasured son, Owen, pushing him in the swing, watching cars pass by and teaching him that the world is more fun when you’re upside down.
If love could cure, he would have superhuman strength with the outpouring of support he received in response to the news of his tumor’s accelerated growth. Billy spread joy to those around him while excelling at the ventures he attempted for himself, his friends and family, and the world as he fought climate change. Those lucky enough to have his wave of love, enthusiasm, and good intentions wash over them were blessed.
Gwen Kelly
It takes all types of strength.
Growing up playing sports with her three older brothers ensured that community member and partner, Gwen, had no shortage of motivation. It was in her second year of college when she started noticing she was having back pain after sitting for longer than an hour. It started to affect her tennis playing, so she saw some doctors, but they couldn’t figure out why. It was when she was on her way to watch a baseball game that Gwen noticed her left leg couldn’t move. And then, a seizure. She was immediately taken to a hospital in New York where they found a tumor in her brain.
Gwen underwent brain surgery in New York to have her tumor removed. As she was recovering from surgery back home in Minnesota, she got a call from her care team: the tumor they removed was a grade 4 astrocytoma. Even though she was diagnosed with brain cancer at only 19 years old, Gwen quickly resolved that this cancer wouldn’t define her or make her put her life on pause. She finished college (early!), started working for her dad’s company, and still goes to the gym every day. She took that passion for movement and activity to the next level and started powerlifting – participating in and winning a tournament just this past summer!
She's an inspiration and one of the #1MillionReasonsWhy we're on a mission to find new treatments for brain cancer. Let's make sure that life goes on!
Nolan Hsu
He was a healthy 30-something experiencing an odd sensation – he heard music playing in his head, despite none playing in the room. It happened a second time. And then a third. He knew something wasn’t right. The MRI revealed that Nolan had a brain tumor – an oligodendroglioma, to be exact.
The world seems to stop when you’re diagnosed with cancer, but you continue onthough to figure out, “what’s next”. Within days an oncologist was secured, and Nolan underwent a craniotomy to remove his tumor. He is working with Dana Farber Cancer Institute as he continues his journey, recently joining a clinical trial for a new type of medication for low-grade glioma patients. Music jams still happen, but they’re the normal kind now.