About BMF page





















The Brian Morden Foundation was created to honor Brian, a courageous 19 year old, who battled Ewing's Sarcoma for more than two years. He lost the battle on February 15, 2003, but his family, friends, and many others who only knew Brian by reputation have vowed to continue the fight against this horrible disease.

The foundation has three goals:

  • Fund Ewing's Sarcoma and childhood cancer research.
  • Support patients, family, and staff of pediatric oncology units*
  • Provide funding for and award "Brian Morden Memorial" higher education scholarships

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September is
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

YOU can make a difference by:

Wearing a Gold Ribbon
especially on Altoona's Gold Ribbon Day on Friday, September 26, 2008

Supporting the BMF and childhood cancer research
Donate to our BMF team at http://curesearch.org/12500
(click on join a team on the left hand side of the CureSearch page
and search for Brian Morden Foundation )

Purchasing a Macy's "Shop for a Cause" coupon from the BMF
(good on Saturday, September 20, 2008)

Planning to attend Make a Difference Day on Saturday, October 25, 2008

Planning to attend the non-profit gift fair on December 6, 2008

Email fdj@brianmordenfoundation.org for more information.

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Pennsylvania Governor Rendell proclaimed September 2008
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Pennsylvania


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CRUISE FOR A CURE
at Lake Raystown!!
Sunday, July 13, 2008, 1:30 – 3:00 PM

Despite a heavy downpour during the drive from the Altoona Area to Hesston, PA,
22 people braved the storm to cruise Raystown Lake on the Princess and participate in the Team Sarcoma Initiative, an effort to increase public awareness of sarcoma and the need to do more to fight this disease. More than 58 teams in 12 different countries and 20 states within the United States participated in events as part of the 2008 Team Sarcoma Initiative.

Erin D., Erin W., Paolo and Ryder, four of our local survivors,
were present and enjoyed the scenery and company. Pictures of the event are now online.


For more information see our flyer or
email fdj@brianmordenfoundation.org.

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 Congratulations, Kevin Longwill, 2008 Recipient of the
Brian Morden Memorial Scholarship


front row: Kevin Longwill
back row: Award winners
Michael Moser, 2007
Jon Lawlor, 2006

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Another beautiful day and event!

4th Annual Team Gold Ribbon Ride
at Fort Roberdeau on May 24, 2008 was a terrific success.
Survivors Jonah Zolnak, Allison Schmitt, DJ Noel,
Christina Holley, Erin Dodson, and Paolo D'Attavio were there!
If you were also there or were a supporter of the event in any other way,
thank you for your help!

Pictures and more information will be uploaded soon.

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THANK YOU AGAIN
McAuliffe Heights students, staff, family, and friends!

The annual Students vs. Staff Basketball game
was VERY successful this year raising almost $250
for our local children with cancer

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STUNNING ...

Brian Morden Foundation
was the beneficiary of a Bungie Charity Auction on Ebay in Feburary 2008.

an AMAZING $6100 was raised

On behalf of those childhood cancer patients
we hope will be helped by our work ...
Thank you Frank O'Connor, Claude Errera,
Bungie Studios, Bungie.org and the anonymous buyer of Mister Chief.
More details to follow, we hope!!

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Happy 24th Birthday, Brian
January 10, 1984


Brian in Preschool

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YOU can make a difference
in the lives of the innocent children and families
who have to suffer with this horrendous disease.

Please see our National Childhood Cancer Awareness page to find out how.

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2006 Season of Sharing donations helped to support
two new Ewing's Sarcoma research studies.
Dr. Stephen Lessnick at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah is directing the studies. PDF of press release

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Personal Tragedies Bring Hope to Sarcoma Patients
Developing a Vaccine for Treating Sarcoma is a Primary Goal

September 2007 - Dr. Geiger and his research team are still actively looking for eligible participants for the vaccine pilot study which the Brian Morden Foundation has helped fund. For more information, please see study details which includes a brief summary of eligibility requirements and contact information.

August 2006 - Dr. Geiger reported the following in an email, "We have all approvals and are ready to start evaluating patients for the trial.  We also should be able to provide a link to a website with info about the trial." As soon as we receive that information, we'll post it here.

Background Information: 

January 28, 2005 - The Brian Morden Foundation and the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative joined forces to fund research on a vaccine to treat recurrent/relapsed Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare cancer. The vaccine is being developed by a team of oncology specialists at the University of Michigan Medical Center led by Dr. James D. Geiger. This study continues an initial Phase I Clinical Trial funded by the National Institutes of Health that Dr. Geiger and his team initiated. Funds from the Brian Morden Foundation and the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, in addition to grants from the University of Michigan will allow doctors to offer a new alternative to patients whose traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy have failed. See Vaccine Pilot Study proposed by Dr. James D. Geiger. See press release.

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We will celebrate Brian's 25th birthday on January 10, 2009.
Please sign our guestbook to help us celebrate his life.

Free Guestbook from Bravenet 
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Issy continues his travels overseas!
Help Issy spread the word about the need for childhood cancer research!

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*Brian was lovingly cared for at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, the initial focus of the second BMF goal. We still plan to contribute in important ways to the oncology unit there, however, we have expanded our outreach with Brian Baskets and "Issy" bears, sending them to other pediatric cancer patients especially to those in the Altoona Area, Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Geisinger, and Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey where some of our area children are being treated. We have also tried to brighten up the day for some children from the Ewing's Sarcoma list serv. If you know a child with cancer who could use a "pick-me-up," please contact us at fdj@brianmordenfoundation.org. We hope to be able to help as many pediatric oncology patients as possible.

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Join our mailing list for newsletters and other updates.

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Contact The Brian Morden Foundation at fdj@brianmordenfoundation.org

last updated 9/1/08