ASCO Humanitarian Award

[napoleondynamite]

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Fellow SDNers,

I've been on this board for awhile now and need to ask your help with something. One of my fellow residents, Brandon Fisher, has been selected as a finalist for the ASCO Humanitarian Award. Your comments on the cancer.net website can help him get the award

This is kind of a big deal b/c dozens were nominated and only 4 finalists selected. He is the only radiation oncology representative, and also the only resident in the running.

Brandon is very deserving of this award. He started a truly unique charity called Radiating Hope (www.radiatinghope.org) which raises money to build/update radonc centers in developing countries. He raises money by helping others organize mountain climbing trips - it's cool stuff, you can read about it on the website if you are interested. He has also been instrumental in helping to organize an international elective for radiation oncology residents (which should be up and running WITH FUNDING) sometime in the next year.

I won't belabor this too much here b/c you can read more about him and also listen to a podcast on the cancer.net website:

http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+A...ed/Find+an+Oncologist/ASCO+Humanitarian+Award

Thank you for your help and please consider taking a look at what he has been able to accomplish.

Thanks,
<ND

 

[radanon]

Cool organization!! I went on a climb with them, tax deductable, meanwhile all the money I spent on climbing went to fund radiation equipment in Panama. Highly recommend this for anyone interested in climbing.

 

[Brim]

Awesome! I hadn't heard of this charity before, but their goal is noble and their approach to fundraising is innovative.

Their website is very nice-looking. I like the homage to the Tibetan flag in their logo.

Good luck to him. I sincerely hope he wins, and I hope the charity has continued success (and fun climbing!).

 

[napoleondynamite]

Yeah, it really is a neat idea.

The prayer flag is more than just an homage too.. Friends & Family of cancer survivors can "sponsor" an actual prayer flag, which is carried by designated climbers (who are typically oncologists) on the different climbs. Patients and family then follow the progress of their prayer flag on the Radiating Hope blog, and all the money raised from the flags goes to the organization's goal of updating equipment in developing countries. Eventually all of the prayer flags make their way to one of the Tibetan shrines at the base camp of Everest, where they remain permanently.

I should also mention that if anyone on this board is interested in doing a rotation next year in Panama, you should visit the Radiating Hope website and look into applying for the rotation. ASTRO and ACRO are both involved and starting to take a bigger and bigger role in this..but Brandon started it all. I really hope he gets the award, he really deserves it.

Thanks for your help and for taking a look.

 

[Werg]

Last year I was talking with some physicists about the possibility of working on equipment in developing countries and eventually I got pointed to Brandon Fisher. Seems like a good choice for this award and a nice guy.

 

[napoleondynamite]

I just found out that you have to click on "like" (linked to your facebook account) in the upper right hand corner of the website to cast your vote.

It will be huge not only for Brandon and Radiating Hope, but validation for teh humanitarian endeavors of our field to win the ASCO award.

Here is link:

http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+A...umanitarian+Award/Nominees/Brandon+Fisher,+DO

 

[Brim]

Are you sure that's what they're going by?

The website says:

Send your input to [email protected]. The selection committee will take your comments into account as they select the award recipient in mid-March.​

I sent them an email.

I just found out that you have to click on "like" (linked to your facebook account) in the upper right hand corner of the website to cast your vote.

It will be huge not only for Brandon and Radiating Hope, but validation for teh humanitarian endeavors of our field to win the ASCO award.

Here is link:

http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+A...umanitarian+Award/Nominees/Brandon+Fisher,+DO

 

[radoncmonkey]

Hey Napoleon,

Are the mountain climbing trips for patients or can anyone go on one of these? Also, how do you go about sponsoring a prayer flag? Like Brimm, I also think that is a cool idea.

Pretty impressive that a resident put this all together - I gave Brandon major props on the ASCO website. I hope he wins the award!

 

[napoleondynamite]

Anyone can go on a climb. The way it works is you either raise money to do the climb, or you self-fund it (tax deductible). One cool perk is that if you do a climb, you get a "gear card" with eithe $500 or $1,000 towards buying any gear you would need, and I think he has formed a relationship with an outfitter so you get gear at either cost or a very steep discount. All of the money you raise goes to building radonc facilities in developing countries.

If you are interested in checking out which climbs they currently do:

http://www.radiatinghope.org/mountaineering/climbs.html

I have done Mt Rainier and Mt Washington with Radiating Hope and both were phenomenal experiences. Next year I will be doing Aconcagua - fun times for a great cause..and I have found raising the money isn't really that difficult either.

In terms of the prayer flags - I think those are $30 each, then you follow the progress of the prayer flag on the Radiating Hope blog as they travel the world:

http://www.radiatinghope.blogspot.com/

Hope that helps.

Oh and Brimm, thanks for sending the email. That probably helps the most, but Brandon was also told the FB "like" button will help too. Thanks everyone for supporting Brandon and also this great cause. It's exciting to be able to watch it develop..

 

[Freight Train]

Anything for Brandon. He deserves it, and props to you for taking care of a brother ND. Hope you guys are well.

FT