Hi! I am participating in this fundraiser because my mom is currently part of UCI’s STOPGAP clinical trial, and she will soon be receiving crucial surgery that would not have been possible without this trial and the extraordinary team behind it, including her oncologist Dr. Dayyani, surgical oncologist Dr. Senthil, and clinical coordinator Luisa.

My mom’s diagnosis of Stage 4 signet ring cell carcinoma typically carries a prognosis of just six months, but this trial offers patients like her the possibility of years beyond that. Much of the funding that made STOPGAP possible came from a previous Anti-Cancer Challenge.

At a time when federal research budgets are being slashed - including a 40% reduction to the NIH - trials like STOPGAP depend more than ever on private philanthropy and community support. I am joining this fundraiser to help ensure that more patients and families can benefit from the kind of life-extending research that is giving my mom hope.🙂♥️