Providing Hope: The Cindy Graham GBM Research Fund

The Cindy Lee Graham (nee Martyn) Memorial Endowment Fund for Brain and CNS Cancer Research

This fund is being built to support the tireless efforts of researchers racing against the clock to develop Glioblastoma treatments that can offer hope where little currently exists...

Cindy Lee Graham, loving wife to Thomas, dedicated mother to Dean (8) and Darwin (8), sister, and dear friend to so many, passed away in the arms of her loving husband at Hospice Wellington on February 24th, 2021 after a 20-month battle with glioblastoma. Cindy had a career that spanned pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, food safety, and in her most important career move she became a professional Mom of the highest calibre. Cindy was taken from her precious 'little guys', but her indelible fingerprints cover them completely - these fingerprints will serve them throughout their lives.

What Your Funds Will Help Achieve

Cindy was selfless throughout her life, and this did not change in death. When she was first diagnosed with glioblastoma she was quick to agree to participate in a groundbreaking study initiated by Dr. Sheila Singh. After each of Cindy's three brain surgeries to remove tumour tissue, Cindy donated the cancerous tissue to the research being conducted by Dr. Singh. Further, Cindy also donated blood so that Dr. Singh 's student's could isolate immune cells for their research into immunotherapies for glioblastoma. Cindy was fully aware that results would come too late for her, but she knew that these contributions could lead to hope for others; hope that this disease so ruthlessly steals away. In her final act, Cindy donated her brain and brain stem to the cause - a feat that was not trivial in the COVID era, but one in which the team at McMaster rallied to make happen. Cindy's combined efforts provided Dr. Singh 's team with a truly unique opportunity to better understand, and eventually perhaps even treat this highly aggressive and ultimately terminal disease.

Cindy's legacy can't stop there, more needs to be done...

In Cindy's last days at hospice, during those rare and so precious moments of lucidity when she was able to push back the curtain that the cancer was drawing on her, I promised to make her death mean something, as her life had so fully done. Glioblastoma had long stolen most of her faculties, including her voice, but we had always been able to communicate with a mere look. When I asked her if she wanted to set up an endowment to support graduate students and leading edge research to further the impact of her tissue donations, her immediate look said it all -- at that moment I made a final vow to the love of my life, and it is towards the fulfillment of this vow that the funds you contribute will be dedicated.

A memorial endowment has been established at McMaster University (Ontario, Canada): "The Cindy Lee Graham (nee Martyn) Memorial Award for Brain and CNS Cancer Research". Proceeds from this endowment will support scholarships and other research initiatives that will one day lead to the development of new treatments for glioblastoma and other central nervous system cancers.

All contributions will go directly to a protected endowment fund set up in Cindy's memory at McMaster University. This fund will provide a source of meaningful annual funding (in perpetuity) to attract, support, and encourage the best and brightest graduate student researchers that are racing against the clock to beat glioblastoma. It is these researchers who will be the force that ultimately defeats this disease, and it was Cindy’s wish that she be able to support these bright minds in their efforts to prevent others from suffering as she, her family, and her friends have suffered.

Glioblastoma took my best friend, the love of my life, and the mother of two wonderful kids -- please consider helping us to help others that will face this fate if we don't do all we can to beat this.

Thank you all most sincerely,

Thomas, Dean, and Darwin Graham -- and all those that love and miss Cindy