Summer Newsletter 2024

We hope this newsletter finds everyone well and enjoying their summer. We were extremely busy the past few months and took a little break from the monthly updates but there’s lots to share.

Community Events:

The Shed

The owners of the Shed and the Franklin High School Lacrosse Boosters hosted a Trivia Night on May 21st. The event raised $3,658 for the NSF. 

Haymakers for Hope

On May 9th, Derek Beaulieu of Franklin participated in the Haymakers for Hope boxing event. Derek fought in honor of his son, Gavin who completed treatment one day prior to the event. Derek chose the Nick Strong Foundation as his charity to donate all proceeds to, which totals over $60,000! This money will also go directly to The Jackson Laboratory for research. To top off an awesome night, Derek won his match!! 

Remington Middle School

The Remington Middle School students took on a “Penny Challenge” for one month and raised $4,800 for the foundation. With this money we were able to donate bags full of some of Nick’s favorite things while in the clinic or the hospital. We were able to deliver these bags to the Jimmy Fund along with some special treats for our favorite nurses. 

Lacrosse Scholarship

The Franklin High School Lacrosse coaches present the Nick Gaspar award each year to a senior who consistently displays actions and spirit like Nick. We decided to add a scholarship to the person who receives this award. This year the Nick Gaspar award and scholarship was presented to Ryan Grasso. Congratulations Ryan and best wishes in the future!!

Golf Tournament

Our First Annual Golf Tournament was a huge success. The day was perfect and we couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends and family to honor Nick. We raised $34,500, which is all going to research for germ cell tumors at The Jackson Laboratory in CT. 

Lacrosse Out Cancer

We were honored to join our dear friends of The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and Mass Youth Lax at a tournament for their Lacrosse Out Cancer campaign. Thank you Bonnie & MYL for having us there to share Nick’s story with the lacrosse community! Check out their amazing campaign at https://cure.pcrf-kids.org/

Dana Farber Cancer Research

In November of last year, we had almost 40 runners take the starting line at the BAA Half Marathon. All of the money raised went directly to cancer research. We recently had the honor of presenting Dr. Bandopadhayay “Mimi” with a check for her research lab at Dana Farber for $59,587.  It was truly amazing to see the direct impact of our fundraising.

Mimi was one of Nick’s doctors that he would occasionally see throughout his treatment. We were fortunate enough to have her present during Nick’s final days. Our family cannot say enough good things about her. She was kind, loving and compassionate to our family as we were faced with many difficult decisions. This is why we chose to have our funds directed to her lab. She is both an amazing doctor and person. To learn more about her, you can check out her website, https://bandolab.org. 

Upcoming:

The Nick Strong Half Marathon team has started fundraising.  We would LOVE to have YOU join the team!! To donate or learn more visit our page.

We are happy to announce, the money raised this year will also go directly to Dr. B’s research lab for pediatric brain tumors. Let’s break that $100,000 fundraising goal!

Our Mission in Action:

Nick Strong Foundation to directly fund groundbreaking research for germ cell tumors.

We are beyond excited to announce groundbreaking research, being conducted by the Jackson Laboratories, that could potentially find treatments to germ cell tumors. Pediatric oncologist Dr. Ching Lau is a professor at the lab, which is a nonprofit biomedical institution committed to basic research discoveries that will change the landscape of cancer detection and care. Dr. Lau and his lab team have developed a first of its kind assay that can accurately diagnose germ cell tumors using spinal fluid obtained from a less invasive procedure such as a spinal tap.  The Nick Strong Foundation has decided to directly fund these tests that cost about $2,000 per test.  They have about 50 samples ready to test and we are now able to fully fund the first round of testing.

We have sent a check for $110,000 to the Jackson Laboratory. Funds were directly from the Foundation and included a combination of….

• $5,200 were received directly to our website from those of you that selected “Yes, I’d like 100% of my donation to support the Jackson Laboratory Germ Cell Tumor research”
• $34,500 from the NSF Golf Tournament
• $60,000 from Haymakers for Hope
• $3,658 from The Shed fundraiser

Every month we try to provide some kind of small financial gift to another family who is also going through the same stress of a cancer diagnosis.  Since our last update, we have sent 4 families financial assistance. If you know anyone in need, please reach out on our contact page.

The foundation donated $5,000 to The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation’s, Dribble for Victory Over Cancer campaign. This is a nationwide movement where college basketball teams and their communities come together in a spirited effort to combat childhood cancer. The Gaspar Family will be heading to UNC Chapel Hill this fall to be a part of this event and share Nick’s story. Dribble for Victory Over Cancer (pcrf-kids.org)