John Gorman’s Cancer Story
On May 5th, 2004, after complaining of severe headaches, John was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Two days later, during a five hour operation, the doctors removed as much of the tumor as possible without damaging healthy brain tissue. After the healing process, John began chemotherapy and radiation. This worked for about six months; then the tumors started growing again. A blood test determined that John was missing a gene that would allow him to react to conventional chemotherapy.
After consulting with doctors form Dana-Farber, John was offered a spot in a cutting-edge clinical trial. Included in the trial were two drugs that had never been used together for the treatment of brain cancer. After a rough six months of severe side effects, the doctors found the correct dosage, and drugs to control his side effects. John’s tumors are just about gone.
John continues to travel to Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute every week for his treatment. The doctors are very pleased with his progress, but do not want to say that he is cured; rather they believe that the treatment is stopping the cancer from growing. John cannot express enough how pleased he is with the care that he has received from Dana-Farber. Through this website and various events, Team Gorman hopes to give back to Dana-Farber the life that they have given him and give someone else the chance for their cure.
How Team Gorman Started
Correctional Officer Mike Porter of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections created Team Gorman in August of 2006 in an effort to thank Dana-Farber for their efforts in finding a treatment for fellow Correctional Officer and friend, John Gorman. Dana-Farber has found a treatment that beats back John’s cancer and allows him to live a more normal life. His brain cancer may not be visible on an x-ray, but he still continues his treatments at Dana-Farber in Boston, every Thursday, possibly for the rest of his life.
Team Gorman’s first mission was participating in the Jimmy Fund Boston Marathon Walk. This consisted of two things: the first was raising $200 in pledges per team member and then walking the course. On September 17, 2006 at approximately 6:30 a.m., sixteen members of Team Gorman’s 24 members took the starting line of the 26.2 mile course. Four members walked/ran the 13.1 mile course. All twenty members crossed the finish line almost nine hours later.
With over $7,000 raised for cancer research in our first event, I could not walk away. I could not let our efforts end or let this team fold after this event. Not alone in this felling, we as a team decided that Team Gorman will live on. Therefore, this is our goal: we will be a fundraising organization for cancer research throughout the United States. We will focus on the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, along with the American Brain Tumor Association. We will hold our own fundraising events, as well as participate in events that donate to any cancer related charity. 100% of the money raised will support the above mentioned charities.
Fight with us! Join Team Gorman!
How to Join the Team
There is only one requirement to join Team Gorman. You must be committed to finding a cure for cancer. There is no fee, but some of the events we participate in do require a registration fee. For instance the Jimmy Fund Walk requires each person to raise $200 in pledges. You will have from late April 2007 through November 1, 2007 to raise the pledge minimum. Want to join us in the fight? Send us an email with your name, address and phone number to mporter@teamgorman.org we will add you to our email list. When an event comes up, we will forward the information to everyone. You are under no obligation to participate in any event, however we welcome your participation. Join the fight! Become a Member of Team Gorman.
Make a Donation
If you are interested in making a donation. Please send a check or money order to Team Gorman 19 Morning Rd. West Kingston, Rhode Island 02892. Thank You for your support.