Event Description
Join us for a memorial 5KRun/2 mile Walk to celebrate Mikey Goodwin. Mikey was a vibrant 19 year old student when diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) a rare and deadly form of brain cancer. Mikey lost his battle with DIPG and we are holding this 5K run/walk in his honor, on his birthday, November 24, 2020. The run will honor Mikey and others lost to this deadly disease and raise funds to help others battle this cancer. The run/walk course is on the beach.
Join us to celebrate Mikey, win some great prizes, learn more about this disease and help us raise funds to advance research and save lives. All profits from this event will be donated to the Candlelighters of Brevard, the UF Shands Bravo Research Fund at the Wells Brain Tumor Center, and to develop a student athlete scholarship in Mikey’s honor at Melbourne Central Catholic High School. Please visit the Race Day tab (EVENT tab) for detailed information about the event.
What is DIPG?
DIPG is one of the most rare and aggressive cancers affecting 150-300 patients yearly in the US. DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, is a type of brain tumor found in an area of the brainstem known as the pons. The name diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma describes how the tumor grows, where it is found, and what kinds of cells give rise to the tumor. Diffuse means that the tumor is not well-contained – it grows out into other tissue so that cancer cells mix with healthy cells. Intrinsic simply means "in", referring to the point or origin. Pontine indicates that the tumor is found in a part of the brainstem called the pons. The pons is responsible for a number of important bodily functions, like breathing, sleeping, bladder control, and balance. Glioma is a general term for tumors originating from glial cells. Glial cells are found throughout the brain. They make up the white matter of the brain that surrounds and supports the neurons (neurons are cells that carry messages in the brain).
A Cure for DIPG
There is currently no cure for DIPG; however, programs such as BTIP (Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program at University of Florida are currently researching treatments (Mikey Goodwin was a patient in this study). Additionally initiatives such as The Cure Starts Now and the DIPG Collaborative are the biggest funders of DIPG research and are vested in finding the cure to DIPG. With over $14 million of DIPG specific research collectively funded, these organizations are laser focused and fueled by their own children's battles with DIPG and brain cancer.
