KMF's July in Review

We’re thrilled to (finally) launch the first edition of our monthly KMF newsletter – thank you for being on our list!?In this monthly letter, you can expect to receive a summary of foundation highlights, exciting updates from our research partners at Duke, and early access to information regarding KMF’s latest events and happenings in the community. And don’t worry, we’ll make sure to keep it short and sweet.?Let’s get right into it...

We've had an action packed summer!

Glioblastoma (GBM) Awareness Day in New York City

July 19th was?National GBM Awareness day! We traveled to New York City to co-host a fantastic gathering in partnership with fellow brain cancer nonprofit? Gray for Glioblastoma (GFG) to raise awareness and bring our New York supporters together for the first time. The event was a wonderful success – we were thrilled to host over 150 guests at a beautiful rooftop venue with panoramic views of Manhattan and Brooklyn!?

While in town, we also had the privilege of supporting GFG during their GBM Day Influencer Happy Hour. We hope to return to NYC each summer to come together on GBM Awareness Day!

Announcing: KMF’s first Community Partnership!

This fall,? Peach State Bank & Trust ?will donate the proceeds from their employees' “Dress Down Friday” campaign to KMF! We’re honored to be the second ever recipient of this exciting campaign. Thank you PSB!?Check out?this video?of our PSB partnership kickoff last Friday.

New Board of Directors member: Charlotte Boyd

Charlotte has been serving as a KMF Ambassador for the last several months, successfully working to refine our interpersonal relationships and communication with donors. Charlotte officially accepted our offer to join the KMF Board of Directors as Director of Donor Engagement. We’re so excited to have her on the team! Read more on her board bio?here.

An Update from our research partners at Duke!

Last week, Becky Martin and Madison Letts sat down with KMF research partners and friends Dr. Mustafa Khasraw and Dr. Kelly Hotchkiss of Duke to discuss news and updates about KMF funded clinical trials.?Mustafa and Kelly did an excellent job explaining the research and clinical data they’re in the midst of gathering for?THREE?different trials funded by KMF…more on each below!

Trial 1: TIL?

Doctors working on the TIL trial are studying different ways to make chemotherapy highly individualized to a patient’s own body and immune system. Mustafa and Kelly are using biopsied tumor samples from patients to grow and strengthen the patient’s native immune cells?outside?of the body (in the lab). Eventually, the team plans to give these cells back to patients, using individualized mRNA vaccine technology to help prompt the patient’s own immune system to assist in destroying the tumor.

Trial 2: PESKe

PESKe is a trial evaluating the efficacy of a drug called Evolocumab (Evo), a drug commonly used to treat high cholesterol, to make cancer cells more visible to the immune system. The problem with many high grade tumors (glioma), is that they are?invisible?to the body’s immune system—meaning the patient’s immune system is unable see the tumor and therefore, unable to fight it off. The PESKe trial will assess how well Evo can travel into brain tissue to make high grade glioma more visible and vulnerable to chemotherapy.?

Trial 3: FLIrT

FLIrT is the trial that officially opened for patients on July 24th! FLIrT is an exciting new FDA-approved trial evaluating the ability of PROZAC, a drug commonly used to treat depression, to synergize with chemotherapy and enhance its effect on destroying recurrent high grade tumors (glioma). The results of this trial are potentially highly exciting because PROZAC is already widely available, inexpensive, and known to be successful at traveling into brain tissue.

Coming up in September...

Our First Annual Golf Against Gliomas Tournament

We’re almost at full player capacity, but there are still a few spots left for this September 8th event! Check out remaining team and sponsorship opportunities?here?if you’re interested in joining. We would LOVE to have you.

"Wellness Wednesday" Yoga Series for Brain Cancer Research

Starting in September and continuing through the end of October, our CEO, Becky, will host the first of KMF’s Wellness Wednesday Yoga Series each week at the Gainesville Arts Council Outdoor Pavilion Lawn. Participants will donate $10 per session directly to KMF. If you live in the area, please join us! We'll share the pre-registration link as soon as it's available...

We’re coming to Charleston!:?Our Annual Board of Directors retreat will take place in Charleston at the end of September, thanks to a very generous donation from the Robert Lackey Family.?On Saturday, September 30th while in town, we plan to host a small gathering to get to know our Charleston community a little bit better! If you live in the area, please let us know:?Text?CHS to 770-766-9992

Coming up in November...

We’re coming to LA!:?Details are still in the works. Thanks to a generous donation from Renee Ridgley and Matt Selman, we’ll be in Los Angeles right before Thanksgiving for an active community event involving one of Knox’s favorite things – HIKING! We’d love to get you on our list for more information when the time comes. If you live in the area, please let us know:?Text CALI to 770-766-9992