When Alex Scranton and Harell Dhari learned their friend, Jordy Glassner, was undergoing treatment for brain cancer at UCLA Health, they rallied their community and, with The UCLA Foundation, started “Team Jordy’s Race to Conquer Cancer Crowdfunding Campaign.” A young wife and mother living in Los Angeles County, Glassner had been diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the most common and aggressive types of malignant brain tumors.
“It’s in moments like these that we realize the power of unity and support,” said Scranton. “Despite the diagnosis, Jordy’s fun-loving nature has never wavered, and, in fact, has grown stronger. Her fearlessness in battling this disease head-on has inspired us to continue living life to the fullest and to make an impact that matters.”
Last fall, Scranton and Dhari participated in Ironman Arizona, their first full Ironman competition that included a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. The two friends dedicated their efforts to Glassner, saying the race was about something bigger than the finish line. “We’re not just racing to the finish line,” said Dhari. “We’re racing to raise awareness about brain cancer and to stand by Jordy. While we were rocked by her diagnosis, Jordy has been our rock. Her courage and optimism have been nothing short of inspirational to everyone who knows her.”
With an inherent resistance to conventional therapy, glioblastoma brain tumors generally do not spread to other organs. Given the brain’s complexity, these brain tumors pose special challenges. The body’s blood-brain barrier protects the brain and spinal cord from harmful chemicals, including many traditional drugs, which limits the access of these therapies to the brain. As a result, many medications do not benefit patients with brain tumors, leaving an unmet need for specific drugs for brain cancer.
Every dollar raised from Team Jordy’s Race to Conquer Cancer will directly support the vital brain cancer research conducted in the UCLA Neuro-Oncology Program in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA through the Stanford L. Kurland Research Fund, named in memory of the late Stanford Kurland, who was diagnosed with a non-operable brain tumor and received care at UCLA Health until his passing in January 2021. Glassner, who is grateful for the care she is receiving at UCLA, personally selected this fund to benefit from the crowdfunding campaign.
Under the guidance of Dr. Timothy Cloughesy (RES ’91, FEL ’92), director of the UCLA Neuro-Oncology Program and professor of clinical neurology, and Dr. David Nathanson (PhD ’11, FEL ’13), associate professor in the UCLA Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division of the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, resources will help advance groundbreaking clinical trials, increase the understanding of what drives brain tumor growth and harness leading-edge molecular diagnostics for patients.
“This research is the beacon of hope we need to help researchers identify new and more effective treatments for brain cancer,” Team Jordy said. The Ironman finish line was just the beginning for Scranton and Dhari, who have made an impact that will benefit all those affected by this condition. As they crossed the Ironman finish line, the power of collective giving helped Team Jordy surpass the initial fundraising goal of $31,000 by raising more than $50,000 to date from 334 donors.
For more information, contact Katie Brown at: 310-367-8742
