About
TeamBrent
In
September of 2004, then 2 1/2 yr old Brent from Southport, Connecticut
was diagnosed out of the blue with Stage IV Neuroblastoma (cancer).
The next 15 months were a blur for the McCreesh family, as Brent
spent most days at either the oncologist's office (affectionately
known as "Dr. Joe's"), Yale New Haven Hospital or Dana
Farber/Boston Children's Hospital. He was immunosuppressed so
germs were a constant enemy. Brent had six rounds of chemo, two
stem cell transplants and three weeks of radiation. On June 3,
2008 Brent marked three years post transplant - cancer free. Brent
loves school, soccer, swimming, tennis, his Nintendo DS, Sorry/Checkers/Othello,
High School Musical, the Yankees, riding his bike and bugging
his sisters.
We all rest in the shade of trees we did not plant
The McCreeshes couldn't have made it through Brent's treatment
without their incredible friends and family and the community.
All of that positive energy was motivating for the McCreesh family,
who drew strength from the support. So many people wanted to help
fight the disease - all that energy and strength was channeled
into what we now call TeamBrent.
TeamBrent is a group of hundreds and hundreds of people who want
to each do their part to fight childhood cancer. "Together
we make a difference." And we do. TeamBrent has raised well
over two million dollars to fight childhood cancer. This money
makes a difference in the fight. Childhood cancer is the leading
cause of death by disease in the US and it kills more children
per year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and
AIDS combined. There are 15 children diagnosed with cancer for
every one child diagnosed with pediatric AIDS. Yet, the U.S. invests
approximately $595,000 for research per victim of pediatric AIDS
and only $20,000 for each victim of childhood cancer. Funding
through events like this, dedicated to children, makes a difference.
Forty years ago a child diagnosed with cancer had less than a
ten percent chance of survival – today 78% overall are cured.
We need to continue this trend.
Our two flagship events are St. Baldrick's and the PanMassChallenge.
We are the world’s largest Team for the St. Baldrick's Foundation,
where men, women and children alike shave their heads in exchange
for donations to fight childhood cancer. It’s a simple concept,
a fun time and a very effective fundraiser - since its founding
in 2000, the St. Baldrick's Foundation has raised over $34 million
with head shavings in 18 countries. TeamBrent runs events in Connecticut,
Boston and London. We do this to give everyone a chance to fight
and raise awareness, and the monies go to fight all types of childhood
cancer, everywhere. The generosity and spirit during this event
has amazed us - it is incredible. There are no words to describe.
Together we make a difference. And isn't it great that we can
have fun while we do it? The St.Baldrick’s Foundation does
so much good with their money – they have helped to contribute
to a treatment for relapsed neuroblastoma patients (see below),
given dedicated grants to Yale's Pediatric Oncology department,
funded six fellowships for neuroblastoma research, and so, so,
so much more!
We also ride the PanMassChallenge. This is the nation’s
original fundraising bike-a-thon and today raises more money than
any other athletic fundraising event in the country. In January,
riders commit to ride 192 miles in the August bike ride, and they
collect pledges to do this. It is an amazing time. The PMC has
contributed more than $200 million to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
since its founding in 1980. TeamBrent has partnered with Dr.Lisa
Diller and has helped to build a dedicated lead lined treatment
room to deliver targeted MIBG/radiotherapy program to relapsed
neuroblastoma children at DFCI. This is huge, this is real, and
this is wonderful. In 2007, the PMC passed through 100 % of every
rider raised dollar – a pass-through rate that is nearly
unparalleled in the $1.5 billion athletic fundraising event industry.
This room on 6w in Boston was built, thanks to our PMC monies,
a grant from St. Baldrick's and dedicated events (Venture Studios
cocktail party, Charlie & Grace trunk shows, the Princess
Ball). Yes, TeamBrent focuses on St. Baldrick’s in the spring
and the PMC in the late summer, but we are broader than that.
We try to fight all year long. We walk Relay for Life, we run
marathons, we hold trunk shows, and so much more. Family and friends
have joined together and fought by shaving their heads for St.
Baldrick's, riding their bikes for the PanMass, walking for Relay
for Life; donating t-shirts, food, and time; driving vehicles
500 miles to roadie for our PMC team; painting faces; hosting
bake sales, cocktail parties and Trunk Shows; creating ads; taking
photos; running marathons and cutting their hair for Locks of
Love in Brent’s honor, selling bracelets, and TELLING EVERYONE
WHY.
We ARE making a difference.
And we don’t just raise money…we raise awareness too…..
TeamBrent has spread awareness through a national neuroblastoma
ad. We partnered with the heads of CureSearch to create a site
to support it. The PSA ran in millions of copies in 2007 and 2008
- check subscriber copies of InStyle, Travel + Leisure, Food &
Wine, Town and Country, Business Week, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company,
Money, Fortune Small Business and Inc throughout the US. Millions
of copies.
TeamBrent has spread awareness three years in a row through an
ad in the Fairfield County editions of Time, Newsweek, USNews
& World Report and Sports Illustrated, thanking our generous
St. Baldrick’s sponsors (60,000 impacts each year).
And we help in other ways….
TeamBrent has helped others via much needed blood and platelet
donations. The impact of this cannot be overstated. During Brent's
treatment he received blood and platelet transfusions nearly every
other day. He was one child going through treatment. The amount
of blood and platelets needed for childhood cancer patients is
astronomical and this is something we can all do to help.
TeamBrent has many members who may actually SAVE A LIFE, as they
have registered to be bone marrow donors.
***
TeamBrent Recognition
TeamBrent has received numerous honors from organizations for
their efforts to fund research for pediatric cancer. It truly
is a group effort and each award, while perhaps given in name
to a TeamBrent founder, is really for the members – as TeamBrent
is nothing more than a collection of great, genuine, positive,
make a difference people. Channeled. Together we make a difference.
2008
Fatherhood
Award 2008, National Fatherhood Initiative
Mike McCreesh was presented with this award on 4/29/08 in Washington
DC. Inaugurated in 1997, the Fatherhood Awards are presented each
year to individuals, corporations, and organizations that make
a substantial contribution to the strengthening of involved, responsible,
and committed fatherhood in their work or personal lives. Previous
individual Awardees include actors Tom Selleck, James Earl Jones,
Kirk Cameron, and Alan Thicke; best selling author Dr. Stephen
Covey; NBC News anchor Tim Russert; FedEx CEO Fred Smith; President
and Publisher of Forbes Magazine James Berrien; NBA current and
former players Eric Snow and Allan Houston; NFL current and former
players Mark Brunell, Cris Carter, Allen Rossum, Orlando Pace,
Mike Singletary, Jim Kelly, and Robert Porcher; pollster George
Gallup; FOX News anchor Neil Cavuto; NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett;
and Gunnery Sergeant Kevin Andrade.
Princess Ball 2008
TeamBrent was chosen as one of three charity recipients for the
lower Fairfield County Princess Ball, one of a series of formal-father
daughter galas held to benefit local charities. The Princess Ball
was founded seven years ago by Ridgefield moms Julie Dustin and
Elizabeth Joyce as a way to strengthen the bond between girls
in grades one through eight and their fathers. It was also a way
to make children aware of the importance of giving back to the
community, with each event raising money for three local charities
that benefit children. The first inaugural lower Fairfield County
gala was held on Feb. 29, 2008 at the Inn at Longshore in Westport.
"We're educating a whole new generation of philanthropists,"
said Dustin.
Award for Alumni Achievement 2008: Hofstra University
Mike McCreesh is being honored with this award at the annual Alumni
Awards Dinner in fall 2008. This award is given to those Hofstra
alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields
of endeavor and/or demonstrated outstanding service to the University.
Only 264 out of more than 115,000 Hofstra alumni have received
this award.
2007
Kochan Award 2007
Michael and Dana McCreesh were the recipients of the 2007 Kochan
award. Dr. Kochan was a dedicated professional, who valued service
to his community and the profession of dentistry. Each year an
award is given in his honor to celebrate the efforts of people
who work tirelessly to improve the world around them. Dana and
Mike were chosen for their efforts with TeamBrent and involving
the community as they have - the embodiment of "service above
self."
Best Life Hero Dad Award 2007
Mike McCreesh was the recipient of Best Life magazine's first
ever Hero Dad award. Best Life had launched a nationwide search
for extraordinary fathers who were making a difference at home,
at work and in their communities, and whose personal journeys
contained defining moments and significant obstacles. Editor in
Chief Stephen Perrine said "We wanted to honor a man whose
story was filled with passion and hope and demonstrated the underlying
challenges of being a father in today's society." His story
was featured in the September issue of Best Life magazine, and
on Fox News (national), the Today in NY show (click to view),Westport
magazine, the CT Post, the Fairfield Minuteman and the Fairfield
Citizen.
Key
to a Cure Saks/Greenwich 2007
Dana McCreesh was chosen by CancerCare of Connecticut as one of
four volunteer models for its October 18th Viva La Cure Fashion
Show at Saks Fifth Avenue, Greenwich CT. These four women were
recognized by CancerCare of Connecticut for making a difference
to the cause.
