About Mayberry Memorial
The Bob Mayberry Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) foundation, was founded in 2008 by Diane Judah-Mayberry to honor the life of Bob Mayberry, a nonsmoker, and his 5 year battle with lung cancer. The purpose of the foundation is to raise money and awareness for the need of lung cancer research. Since our inception, we have partnered with Dr. Edward Kim, Bob’s oncologist, at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and have had 5 successful fundraising events. We are now preparing for our 6th.
Did you know: more people – men and women – die each year from lung cancer than any other type of cancer? In 2005, lung cancer accounted for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined. Only 50% of people treated for stage IV lung cancer live for 1 year. Approximately 20% of all lung cancer diagnoses are with patients whom have never smoked in their lives. Yet, because of the stigma associated with the disease, lung cancer research remains extremely under-funded.
For example, every person who dies of breast cancer, approximately $27,000 is spent on research, compared to less than $1,300 for each person who dies of lung cancer. Breast cancer survival rates are at 89% after 5 years, while lung cancer rates are less than 15%.
Over the last five years we have been very successful raising over $140,000 to date for direct funding towards the B.A.T.T.L.E. Cancer Treatment Research being done at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. This program is dedicated to erradicating lung cancer, while providing new insight into how cancers are battled each and every day. The research focuses on biopsying each individual’s tumor and studying the specific cancer markers that are unique to each person’s cancer. Then, drug treatments are determined utilizing these cancer markers. This is important, because every body reacts differently and chemotherapy doesn’t work for everyone.
Our most recent dinner was held on April 2, 2011 at the Lakeway Resort and Spa in Lakeway, Texas. The night, while filled with dancing and fun rocking to the 50′s, also generated $40,000 for the ongoing personalizing therapy research for lung cancer patients. Our next event is scheduled for April 7, 2012 at the La Paloma Event Center in Lakeway, Texas.