Partnership for Research and Education

In loving memory of our mother, Maria Luisa “Malou” Allado Reformina, I am launching this fundraiser to support cureMEC, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for Myoepithelial Carcinoma (MEC).

On the morning of July 8, 2025, our family said goodbye to Mama as she passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She faced every challenge with grace, strength, and deep faith, surrounded by the love of her family.

Mama was diagnosed with Myoepithelial Carcinoma (MEC) in 2018 — a rare salivary gland cancer with very little existing research. After her initial surgery and radiation, we were hopeful the cancer was gone. But in 2021, it spread to her lungs. From there, she underwent another round of radiation and, in 2022, joined a two-year clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering, one of the world’s leading cancer hospitals. The treatment initially slowed the disease, but in early 2025, the cancer began to spread again and she started chemotherapy. Despite every setback, she continued to fight with faith, laughter and resilience and that inspired everyone around her.

Because MEC is so rare, there is limited research and few treatment options available. That’s why I am raising funds for cureMEC, a non-profit organization founded by Naomi and Michael — parents whose young son, Sebastian, is bravely fighting MEC. They are leading the effort to accelerate research, fund innovative studies, and collaborate with top cancer centers around the world.

CureMEC has already made incredible progress, including establishing the first-ever MEC Biobank and Patient Registry and helping scientists develop the world’s first MEC cell line, which is critical to studying how this cancer grows and finding targeted treatments.

Your support will help continue this vital work and bring hope to families like ours who are affected by this devastating disease.

Every dollar donated goes directly to MEC research through the Partnership for Research and Education (PRE), a registered 501(c)(3) that has generously waived all administrative fees — ensuring every cent helps advance the science toward a cure.

Thank you for helping honor my mother’s legacy and for giving hope to those still fighting.

Learn more: https://www.curemec.org