Did you know that 27 Canadians and over 500 people worldwide are diagnosed with a brain tumour every day? There are over 120 different types of brain tumours, but the deadliest is glioblastoma (GBM), and on the third Wednesday of July every year, we celebrate GBM Awareness Day.
The National Brain Tumor Society spearheaded this annual event in 2019 to shine a light on GBM, support survivors and their loved ones, celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost, and honour researchers who are working toward finding a cure for this devastating disease.
This year, many gathered virtually for the event on July 21st. In addition, many brain tumour foundations across the globe held educational programming and community discussions to support GBM Awareness Day. With continued research, researchers will discover better treatment options to improve GBM patients’ long-term prognosis. Unfortunately, GBM has been commonly coined a ‘treatment-resistant brain tumour’ that is notoriously wily, making them surgical nightmares. However, many believe that we can make a difference and find a cure if we work together to raise funds and awareness.
How can you show your support?
Join the movement by:
- Sharing about GBM with your family and friends.
- Highlight resilient GBM patients and caregivers if you know any.
- Recognize doctors, nurses, scientists, and advocates who are working tirelessly to combat GBM.
- Follow and support brain tumour organizations that are fighting year-round for change. Connect with foundations like Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada (BTFC), Ivy Brain Tumor Center, International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA), American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), Gray Matters Foundation, Head for the Cure, OurBrainBank, National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), and Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
- Register for a brain tumor fundraising event. Consider donating to my brain tumour fundraiser for Team #HoldOnPleaseEmily here.
- Purchase a copy of my book to learn about GBM in an easy-to-understand medium that is both engaging and educational. A portion of my book sale proceeds even goes to brain tumour research.
Want to learn more?
Check out the August edition of ‘Hold On‘ to read more about GBM. If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter yet, you can get access to read my digital magazine here.