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Blast Glioblastoma to host second annual fundraiser for brain cancer research
NATALIE PEACOCK
Legal News Reporter
Published: April 2, 2015
Both Joe and Michelle Blanda are Akron area doctors but it was their son, Joe, who suggested the family should raise money for brain cancer research after he was told about his own brain tumor cancer prognosis back in October 2013.
“So he planted the seed and gave us the incentive to do this,” said orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joe Blanda.
The first thing the Blandas did after Joe’s diagnosis was form Blast Glioblastoma, an organization that contributes 100 percent of donations to brain tumor research projects. To avoid overhead, they created their organization to be volunteer-driven with any administrative expenses being covered by the family. With just one year of operation and several large and small fundraisers, the organization has raised nearly $500,000.
This year the group hopes to raise at least that much with its second annual dinner and auction which will be held on Saturday, April 18, at Quaker Station on 135 S. Broadway in Akron. The fundraiser is from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
The evening will have a superhero theme and will include live and silent auctions, dinner and live music. One of the goals is to create even more awareness of the disease.
“Strangely enough, Northeast Ohio has the highest incidence of brain cancer than any region in the country,” he said. “So there is some awareness and the other strange coincidence is the year of my son’s diagnosis six other physician families were affected in Akron.”
Blanda says the personal experience has really made him aware of the struggle that patients and their families face.
“As a physician I understand the side of medical disease,” he said. “But as a parent and a caregiver, it’s been a humbling experience and very educational experience to see this side. It’s actually given me more motivation to stay passionate about this because I can imagine what this must be like for someone who knows nothing about healthcare and the healthcare system.”
Besides the annual dinner, both the Blandas and the community have held other fundraisers.
“Different groups in the community have stepped forward and said they were going to raise money,” he said. “Whether it was an event at a restaurant/bar or a student at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s who held a dress down day and talked about the disease. We also had a 5k last year and a movie night at the Highland Theater.”
Even though it is a family effort, the Blandas want the focus to be about the community rallying together to raise money needed to fund more research.
“It’s not about my son; it’s not about my efforts or my family’s efforts,” he said. “It’s a community effort to really help in an area that is in dire need. Such a small amount of money is given to brain cancer.”
For more information on Blast Glioblastoma and registration for the 2nd annual dinner, visit www.blastgbm.com.