To date, the Be Brave for Life Foundation has raised $1,000,000 to improve the quality of life for those affected by cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) and non-cancerous brain tumors by raising awareness and funding innovative research. Together, we will make a difference for patients and families!
Riley’s Story
Riley Callen founded Be Brave for Life in 2015. Here is her story.
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10 Years: Our Impact
We have funded research all over the world. Take a look at where your donations go!
Join the fight! Take action today.
As you raise funds to create awareness around and support research for cavernous malformations and non-cancerous brain tumors, you will discover the power that comes from being brave!
Surgery. The only cure for Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM).
While four decades of research into CCM has resulted in a greater understanding of the growth of these lesions, treatment options remain limited. Today, they CANNOT be directly treated with medicine. Without surgery, symptoms can only be managed or monitored. The risks of surgery are high. It can cause permanent neurological deficits, especially in the brainstem, and there is still a high chance of recurrence.
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Blog Posts
Christina’s Story
During Christmas week 2009, I felt tingling and burning in my legs, along with a “creepy crawly” feeling on my waist. I ignored it for a week, until things got progressively worse. By New Year’s Day, I wasn’t able to walk, had a drop foot, and was losing bowel and bladder function. I was brought…
Kate’s Story
It was April Fools day 2012 and I was sitting in Panera Bread working on some graduate school coursework in the morning. Gradually I began to realize that my hearing was changing, as was my vision, and slowly my left hand stopped working. I put my computer away to try the walk home to my…
Jenniffer’s Story
My name is Jenniffer and I have been recently been diagnosed with CCM disease, I have had seizures since I was 14 years old. My first brain bleed was found about 2007, then in 2011 I had my first brain surgery to remove a cavernous angioma. Fast track to now, I was finally diagnosed with…