Our Mission
To fund research in support of the groundbreaking work necessary to find cures for all forms of pediatric brain tumors.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund is an organization dedicated to funding research for curing kids with brain tumors. Watch this video to learn more about our cause.
Why. How. What.
Founded in 2005
Erin Cordry founded the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund in 2005 after her son Max was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. After getting her son through the harsh treatment and participating in a clinical trail that saved his life, she has dedicated her time to making sure further research is funded to save the lives of other children and ultimately find better and curative treatments. Max recently graduated from college with honors.
$9M and Counting
PBTRF has raised $9M with 100% going to pediatric brain tumor research. We are grateful to the many donors and volunteers over the years that have made this possible and are looking forward to continuing to support and have an impact.
Thank you for 14 years of Run of Hope! (2009-2022), Hops of Hope, Eligh’s Chili Cook Off, Ella Vaders goes Skydiving, Bunco for Kaylie, Team Maarten’s Art Sale and Music Festival, X-Man’s Garage Sales and Pierogis, Salsa Sales for Lucy, University of Arizona Capture the Flag.
SEATTLE CHILDREN’S GUILD
We are a member of the Seattle Children’s Guild Association. As a member of this guild, we support the great work and research that Seattle Children’s is doing to battle childhood brain cancer.
“We could not realize these goals without guild support. Guild members keep showing up and saying yes, and we couldn’t be more thankful.”
– Dr. Mike Jensen, director of the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research
Future of Run of Hope
Dear Beloved Brain Tumor Community,
In 2005, we started the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund. We were astonished at the lack of awareness and funding for pediatric brain tumors. We decided to do something about it. With a small but mighty team, we started with a simple request to send us money and do nothing - a Non Event - and in 2006 we raised $100,000. With that, we knew we were on to something, and we were off and running!
In early 2009, another group of people met in aconference room at the Seattle Children's Research Institute building. It was a mutual "interview" of sorts between representatives from the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel Seattle and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund. Both groups were on a mission to raise money for childhood cancer research. Both groups wanted to create an event that would bring people together. Both groups were looking for passionate partners. Thus, the Run of Hope was created.
Then, all of YOU joined us and we became an amazing force by raising money TOGETHER. For our kids.
We are immensely proud that the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund has set the bar for brain tumor research fundraising by raising $9 million, 100% of which has been sent directly to the phenomenal doctors, labs and programs at Seattle Children's. However, we are even more proud of the community that has been built around the Run of Hope...patients, families, friends, care providers and volunteers all have come together each year (even virtually) to celebrate those who are doing such great work and to honor the children who have fought so valiantly.
After 14 years, it is time for us to hand over the leadership of the Run of Hope. We are thrilled that Seattle Children's Hospital and the Run for Children’s guild has agreed to manage the event and carry it forward. You can expect to see some changes to the look and feel of the race, and fundraising will now be inclusive of the broader pediatric cancer research community. However, you can continue to raise money for pediatric brain tumor research and your favorite doctors through this run! See below for more details.
As this special chapter for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund comes to an end, we cannot thank YOU enough for all of your support. Our success has been a direct result of the amazing engagement of this community. Rest assured, we are not going anywhere! Our team is made up completely of volunteers who are dedicated to changing the lives of those affected by pediatric brain tumors for generations to come. Please continue to donate here: www.pbtrf.org. As always, we are committed to sending 100% of all donations to fund research. Stay in touch by following us on Instagram, Facebookand Twitter and check our website for updates.
With enormous gratitude and continued hope,
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund Guild
** Save the Date for Run of Hope 9/24/23 at Seward Park. If you are interested in helping, please email guildassociation@seattlechildrens.org
The PBTRF Team
ERIN CORDRY
Erin Cordry is a Co-Chair for the Run of Hope Seattle and the President of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund, a special interest research guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Erin serves on the Board of Trustees for the Seattle Children’s Hospital Guild Association. Erin founded the PBTRF guild in 2005 in honor of her son Max Hanson, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 8 years old. Max had a high risk medulloblastoma and underwent major surgery to remove his tumor, followed by a year of treatment which included intense cranial/spinal radiation and chemotherapy, physical therapy, and occupational and speech therapy.
MIKE HIRSCHLER
Mike Hirschler is a Co-Chair of the Run of Hope Seattle and on the board of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund. Mike is the Director of Human Resources at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. Mike has been with Four Seasons since 2005, and has always been actively involved in the Four Seasons Corporate Value of "Advancing Cancer Research". Previously with Four Seasons Hotel Boston and Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, Mike has served on the race committees for the Run of Hope Boston (funding the Cancer Center at MassGeneral Hospital for Children) and the Run for Gus (funding pediatric brain tumor research at Children's Hospital of Chicago). It was a personal goal of his that Four Seasons Hotel Seattle establish a cancer research run within the first year of the hotel's operation.
MARY PAT IACI
Mary Pat Iaci is a Co-Chair of Run of Hope Seattle and serves on the board of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Seattle Children's Guild Association. After seeing the families and children affected by brain tumors at the inaugural Run of Hope, Mary Pat was both humbled and inspired. Since then she has become even more passionate and committed to raising much needed funds for Pediatric Brain Tumor Research. For more than 20 years, Mary Pat has dedicated her time and talent to making the community a better place through a variety of nonprofit organizations.
BOARD MEMBERS
Heather Hughes, Sheryl Kennedy, Kristie Berg, Margaret Havens, Debbie Rochefort Jeff Aamodt, Barbara Defreest, Kathleen Fey