Chad Tough Defeat DIPG Foundation
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Mission
Why was Chad Tough Defeat DIPG Foundation created?
In September 2014, two families, 500 miles away from each other, were hit with the most devastating news imaginable; each of their sons was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), the deadliest form of pediatric brain cancer. Each were given just 9 months to live.
While searching for hope and answers, Tammi and Jason Carr, in Michigan, and Jenny and Mark Mosier, in Maryland, began a journey through the darkest days of their lives. By the end of the following year, each family endured the inevitable, heartbreaking loss of their sons, Chad Carr, age 5, and Michael Mosier, age 6, to DIPG.
Throughout that excruciating time, the Carrs and Mosiers uncovered their shared passion for honoring their sons through raising research dollars. They, like so many other DIPG families, desperately wanted to help change the outlook for future families forced to face the horror of DIPG. Both families established foundations in honor of their children, with one common goal — to fund the most innovative, promising research on DIPG.
In early 2021, the two foundations (The ChadTough Foundation and Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation) united to become the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation. They’ve been joined by a growing, international team of passionate Family Partners who are committed to changing the outcome for future families facing DIPG/DMG, in honor of their own children.
What are your goals?
Our mission is to inspire and fund game-changing research to discover effective treatments for pediatric brain cancer, with an emphasis on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). While the survival rate for DIPG is still nearly 0%, doctors now believe a cure for DIPG is within reach. Our vision is for DIPG to no longer be a death sentence.
What is the focus area of your efforts?
The ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation has awarded millions of dollars in grants to fund promising pediatric brain cancer research with an emphasis on DIPG. We offer several types of grants to help us reach our goal, with a special emphasis on encouraging younger researchers to dedicate their efforts toward finding a cure for DIPG. In addition to funding research, the foundation recently launched a special program, My DIPG Navigator, focused on providing free, one-on-one support from experienced nurses for families facing a DIPG or DMG diagnosis.
In what ways do you support the brain tumor community?
The ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation has been able to provide research funding for almost 50 different researchers across 31 institutions around the world, so far. After decades of despair, the innovative research we have helped fund is providing hope for future families faced with the devastation of a pediatric brain cancer diagnosis.
The foundation has also provided much-needed support for families trying to navigate treatment for their loved one. The program helps educate families on the disease and options, connect families to experts and trials, and support families throughout their entire journey.
Why do you support CBTN?
Finding a cure for pediatric brain cancer is no easy task. It will not be cured by one doctor, one institution, or one organization’s efforts. We believe a collaborative approach is the only way a cure will be found. We are proud to stand side by side with CBTN in our quest for a cure.