“Our GBM Heroes® have made a significant difference in the lives of patients diagnosed with GBM." - Michael J. Hennessy, Jr.
Scottsdale, AR (PRWEB) November 18, 2016
CURE® Media Group, publishers of CURE® magazine, awards Gary Mervis, Dellann Elliott Mydland and Sumul N. Raval, MD, DABPH as the 2016 winners of its second annual Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Heroes® Award, announced president of CURE® Media Group, Michael J. Hennessy, Jr. The winners will be honored at a celebration gala at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort in Scottsdale, AZ, on Friday, November 18th. Additionally, this will take place during the 21st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology.
In making the announcement, Michael J. Hennessy, Jr., said “Our GBM Heroes® have made a significant difference in the lives of patients diagnosed with GBM. We are proud to celebrate their contributions and efforts in the areas of advocacy, treatment advances for this disease, and in improving the quality of life of patients and their families.”
Guest speaker for the evening will be actress, author and 16-year uterine cancer survivor Fran Drescher, who has a reputation for passion and commitment. Her portrayal of Miss Fine on NBC's hit series The Nanny earned her two Emmy and two Golden Globe award nominations. She is an accomplished author and received the NCCS writer's award for Cancer Schmancer, a New York Times bestseller. Ms. Drescher is the founder, president and visionary of the nonprofit Cancer Schmancer Movement, which focuses on early detection, prevention and advocacy to fight the disease.
The honorees of the 2016 award were nominated by patients, health care professionals and advocates for their contributions to the field of GBM and for making a difference in the lives of people with the disease. GBM is the most aggressive and most common form of primary brain tumor in the United States, affecting approximately 10,000 people every year. The median overall survival time from initial diagnosis is 15 months.
The 2016 GBM Heroes® are:
Gary Mervis
In 1979, Mervis learned that his youngest daughter suffered from a malignant brain tumor. In response to her diagnosis, he founded Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that focuses on improving the quality of life for children and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges. Over the years, Camp Good Days and Special Times has served more than 46,700 campers from 22 states and 34 countries.
Dellann Elliott Mydland
In 2002, Mydland and her late husband, Christopher Steward Elliott, founded the EndBrainCancer Initiative (EBCI), which has as its goal to provide immediate access to top brain cancer specialists, including neurosurgeons and advanced treatment/clinical trials through a one-on-one personalized “direct connect” approach. Mydland is responsible for the organization's vision and is the driving force behind EBCI's goals to create effective change in health policy and standards of care.
Sumul N. Raval, MD, DABPN
Raval, a board-certified neurologist and authority on brain tumors, is one of the few neuro-oncologists in private practice who brings world-class care to families throughout New York and New Jersey. He is the founder and director of the David S. Zocchi Brain Tumor Center at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey, the state's first facility to specialize in brain tumors. Dr. Raval has received numerous awards, including “The Jersey Choice Top Doctors in New Jersey,” by New Jersey Monthly for the past four years.
The GBM Heroes® Recognition program is sponsored by Novocure, a global oncology company.
About CURE® magazine
CURE® magazine is CURE® Media Group’s flagship product and an indispensable guide to every stage of the cancer continuum. With nearly 1 million readers who include cancer patients, cancer centers and advocacy groups, CURE® is the largest consumer publication in the U.S. that focuses solely on cancer. CURE® Media Group was acquired in 2014 by Michael J. Hennessy Associates, Inc. (MJH), and joined CURE® with MJH’s acclaimed OncLive® (http://www.onclive.com) platform of resources for the practicing oncologist.
About Novocure
Novocure is a global oncology company pioneering a novel therapy for solid tumors called Tumor Treating Fields, or TTFields. Headquartered in Jersey Isle, Novocure’s U.S. operations are based in Portsmouth, NH, and New York, NY. The company also has offices in Switzerland, Germany, and Japan, and a research center in Haifa, Israel.
About Cancer Schmancer
Cancer Schmancer, a tax-exempt organization based in Malibu, CA, was founded by Fran Drescher. The organization’s mission is to save lives by shifting the nation’s focus from just searching for a cure for cancer to prevention and early detection. The Cancer Schmancer Movement is a three-pronged movement dedicated to early cancer detection, prevention and policy change.