The Connecticut Brain Tumor Association was built from the experience and strength of its founders, who in turn, were inspired by the many survivors, angels and caregivers who preceded them in this fight —warriors, all.
How it Started: Two Patients, Two Caregivers
In 2006,Tracey Gamer-Fanning and Jennifer Pace met for coffee in West Hartford — a meeting suggested by their mutual friend, Stacey Mairano. Stacey and Jennifer were neighbors and Stacey, along with her sister, Kim Hodnett, knew Tracey from a local brain tumor support group.
The women shared a lot in common: they were young professionals, wives, and mothers whose lives had been inextricably altered by a brain tumor diagnosis: Tracey and Jennifer as patients; Stacey and Kim as caregivers.
And a Simple Human Need
The women quickly determined that more needed to be done. A brain tumor diagnosis felt exceptionally lonely. There was no supportive community with pink ribbons and parades. The goal, Tracey said, was to ensure that from this point on, patients and caregivers would"Never, never feel alone."
Family members joined in and thus began the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance, giving a much-needed face to this prevalent, yet silent disease.