"My grandmother, Janet Dalys,聽was diagnosed with a stage IV glioblastoma this past October. She had surgery and radiation, and is still going through chemotherapy treatments. Though it has been very difficult, she has maintained a very very optimistic attitude, and saying that she is an inspiration is an understatement. I decided to design and have pins made, and have been selling them for $5 each to raise money for this cause. Some money has gone to her radiation oncologist鈥檚 research to develop a new treatment, and I will also sell pins at the Montreal Brain Tumour Walk on June 9th to raise money for their foundation. They have also been sold at the MNI and the MUHC Glen Site. I have sold over 1000 for the cause thus far and it has given my grandmother much joy to watch this fundraiser unfold. We are still looking for ways to raise more awareness and get others to buy pins and to 鈥淲ear Grey in May鈥�. We have sold pins to our family and friends, as well as those suffering from this terrible disease, and their families in Canada and the US, since we started shipping pins recently. What I thought would be a small fundraiser turned into so so much more, and I鈥檓 extremely excited about what the future has in store for this fundraising initiative! We have been sent some pretty heartwarming stories...聽One bride in the United States is having her 5 brothers wear the pins on their tuxedos at her wedding this weekend as a surprise for their mother who is a survivor. That鈥檚 the kind of thing that has kept me feeling driven.
(Janet Dalys and Dr. Bassam Abdulkarim)
"Meet Dr. Bassam Abdulkarim, my grandmother's treating radiation-oncologist at the Montreal Neurological Institute/MUHC, researcher, and participant of the 2019 Scotia Bank Charity Challenge. Dr. Abdulkarim and his team have fundraising goal of $100,000 towards much needed and underfunded brain cancer research. With that in mind, all proceeds of our "Grey Matters" pins will be donated to this very important cause and one very close to my heart. Please don't forget to Wear Grey in May.
"If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at divahadef [at] gmail.com. Thank you."
