Updates That Can't Wait

In the Jan. 14 edition of the North Raleigh News, I wrote a story about David Fajgenbaum, who raised more than $7,000 one Saturday when he hosted a "Boot Camp for Brain Cancer" in honor of his late mother, Anne Marie Fajgenbaum.

David was working on starting Ailing Mothers & Fathers, a support network for students who have a sick or deceased parent at Georgetown University where he is a rising junior.

Fajgenbaum had promised his mother that he would continue educating people about brain cancer.

After the boot camp, Fajgenbaum held his first AMF meeting. More students became interested in the group's mission and wanted to help. From that response, Students of AMF Service formed. The group began to participate in activities throughout Washington, D.C.

Most recently, the group participated in an event in which hats that belonged to brain tumor patients were displayed on Capitol Hill.

Fajgenbaum subsequently formed Students of AMF Angels after Georgetown faculty inquired about the organization. That group is made up of 30 faculty members.

He is also working on a mentoring program pairing college students with middle- or high- school students who have a sick or deceased parent.

He has attended conferences speaking about brain tumors, and he has been in contact with other universities that are interested in starting support networks.

Fajgenbaum said he is in the process of developing a Web site that will be the main point of contact for the groups and their mission.

I'll keep you posted.