Attendees enjoy lunch and conversation at the 2009 Midwest Regional Brain Tumor Conference.  We are hoping for an even better turnout on June 26.

With a month to go, registration has topped the 100 mark for the 2010 Midwest Regional Brain Tumor Conference, which will take place on Saturday, June 26, at the UC Tangeman Center.  The patients and caregivers registered so far come from Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio.  Our goal is to surpass last year's total of 192 patients and caregivers from 9 states. There were 246 total attendees, including participants, faculty/volunteers, and exhibitors at the 2009 event.

Eric Becker, committee chair and advisory board member, has been leading regular planning meetings since last winter.  The committee includes fellow advisory board member Ricki Collins, Christopher McPherson, MD, and staff members Tara Stamper, CNRN, Kimbaird Avant, Tom Rosenberger, Christa McAlpin, and Lynette Ranasinghe.  This group has been working diligently on the program, logistics, promotions, and fundraising for the event, which is planned in partnership with the National Brain Tumor Society.  There is no charge for participants to attend. Click on the image in the right column to view the program or to register.

To date, more than $5,500 has been donated to support the event from five companies who are planning to staff an exhibit in the exhibit hall.  Support from 10 additional vendors is pending but not yet confirmed.  In addition, the Brain Tumor Center, Precision Radiotherapy Center, Wellness Community, American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, National Brain Tumor Society, UC Health Otolarngology--Head and Neck Surgery, and the Acoustic Neuroma Association will have displays in the exhibit hall.  Contributions from the community to support this effort are also welcome and encouraged.  If you know of someone who would like to support the conference, please contact Kimbaird Avant at 513-558-8646.

Congratulations to Eric and his team on a well-planned event!

Other notes:

Advisory Board Meeting moved to June 26!  Be sure you've corrected your calendar for our June Advisory Board meeting.  The June 5 meeting has been moved to June 26 at 8:00 a.m.so all board members can experience the symposium.  We will be meeting in a board room in the Tangeman Center, just around the corner from our conference venue.

Walk Ahead for the Brain Tumor Cure!  Advisory Board members Wally Pagan and Chris Knueven are co-chairing our next big fundraiser, Walk Ahead for the Brain Tumor Cure, which takes place on October 10, 2010, at the Purple People Bridge between downtown Cincinnati and Newport.  Plans for the 5k event are really picking up steam.  We will have a full report in our next VIP Blog entry.

Sandy Hempel is our rockstar!  The Brain Tumor Center's 2010 advertising campaign is underway in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton.  The campaign includes a television comercial, print advertising, internet advertising, and NPR sponsorships. It features Sandy Hempel, a brain tumor survivor and patient of our Center who recently became our newest advisory board member!  It is a great campaign and we appreciate her support.  Tom Rosenberger will provide a full report at our advisory board meeting in June.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and appreciate your ongoing support of the Brain Tumor Center.

Sincerely,

Kathy Beechem, Chair, Community Advisory Board