Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer deaths in children and the most common solid cancer in people under the age of 20 in the United States. Despite the research progress over the last several decades, the survival rate for many pediatric brain cancers remains unacceptably low. The survival rate for pediatric high-grade gliomas, the brain cancer that Brayden had, is less than 20%. The median survival is less than 2 years. Brayden passed away just 18 months after being diagnosed with a high-grade glioma.

Childhood tumors are fundamentally different than those found in adults. Yet many pediatric brain tumors lack a defined standard of care, because all the treatments were created for adults. The government allocates just 4% of its annual cancer research budget to pediatric cancer. Organizations like us, The Brayden Cole Hinck Foundation, raise more than half of the money currently going to research treatments for pediatric cancers. Our work is more important than ever.

May is brain tumor awareness month. We ask that you join us to help raise awareness and show your support. Wear the color gray, post on your social media, and spread the word. Our children deserve better. No parent should have to hear what we did – there is no standard of care for your child.

Please be sure to tag @TheBraydenColeHinckFoundation on your Go Gray posts on social so we can re-share.