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The world has lost yet another wonderful human being. My Uncle Jim Morris was someone I looked up to, but also remember as being the one who allowed the kids to play hide and seek in the educational buildings of his churches during our family reunions when we were young. : ) He and my Aunt Betty were quite a pair and a wonderful team during his/their ministry.
I will never forget his trip to Altoona specifically to see me after Brian died and Fred left to see how I was doing. He knew I was struggling … he had faced his own heartaches including when his wife (Aunt Betty) died of leukemia. He definitely believed Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
I am deeply grateful for Uncle Jim’s life and his influence on me for 63 years! His love lives on through his family and in the many wonderful memories I have. On behalf of our Brian Morden Foundation children battling cancer and their families, I’m so thankful for his and his family’s request to consider donations to the Brian Morden Foundation in his memory.
He was, is, and will continue to be well loved!
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Our BMF CARES Spotlight for Spring 2020 is Ava Miduri, an adorable 6 year old from Duncansville who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, the same kind of cancer that took Brian Morden’s life in 2003. Thankfully, Ava is a survivor! To learn about this sweet, spunky young girl and her journey with cancer, read her story.
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Congrulations to our 2020 Brian Morden Foundation
Scholarship and Award Winners!
Brian Morden Memorial Scholarships
Raquel Dunio
Makayla Ruggery
Talon Crowther
Erin Dodson Memorial Scholarship
Margaret Fox
Brian Morden Foundation Survivor Awards
Timothy Boyles
Illana Cecilia
Jonah Zolank
Thanks Grammy (and PopPop) for your yearly birthday gift to Brian
and the BMF, ensuring that we will be able to award
a Brian Morden Memorial Scholarship.
This year we are also extremely grateful to those who donated to
Kiera's Dream ... a concert to benefit the Brian Morden Foundation
Monies designated for scholarships made our survivor awards possible!
Thank you to those who organized and participated
in the Erin Dodson Scholarship Fund Basket Raffle in September 2019
and others who have generously given
so that we will be able to award
Erin Dodson's Memorial Scholarship again this year.
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February 15, 2020 - Seventeen years later, still remembering Brian, his life,
and those he loved who continue to support local children with cancer,
pediatric oncology units at PA Children's Hospitals, award higher education scholarships,
and fund promising research studies through
The Brian Morden Foundation.
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On Tuesday, January 28, 2020, Dawn Morden and Cathy Chirdon, Kiera’s grandmother and BMF Board secretary, traveled to Pittsburgh with Kiera’s grandfather Bob Chirdon to present a $35,000 check to Kelly Bailey, MD, PhD. Dr. Bailey is a physician scientist at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
The Brian Morden Foundation and Alex's Lemonade Stand
Team Up to Fund Childhood Cancer Research
September 2019
The Brian Morden Foundation (BMF) is continuing their partnership with Philadelphia based Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) in the fight against childhood cancer.
During National Childhood Cancer Month, the BMF was thrilled to be able to present a check to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to co-fund two projects. This year has been a significant one for both Brian Morden Foundation’s vice-president Barbara Piper and co-founder/president Dawn Morden. Their sons (Brian Morden and Tim Piper) would have been 35 this year had their lives not been cut short by cancer.
The Brian Morden Foundation Board of Directors chose to honor and remember Brian and Tim this year in a meaningful way using donor funds that were designated for research.
The $35,000 donation is symbolic of the 35th birthdays
Brian and Tim should have been celebrating.
February 15, 2016
13 years after Brian passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma, cancer has not won the battle. Brian’s legacy continues through the lives of many others. The Brian Morden Foundation is excited and grateful to be able to announce a partnership with Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Initially, we will be helping to fund a promising research study by John Bushweller, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Cancer WILL NOT win.
For more information, please see the press release.
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Happy 36th Birthday, Brian
January 10, 1984
SuperBrian
Please sign our guestbook to help us celebrate his life.
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YOU can make a difference
in the lives of the innocent children and families
who have to suffer with this horrendous disease.
Some suggestions from the Brian Morden Foundation:
Send cards to children with cancer. Contact the BMF for addresses.
Donate to the Brian Morden Foundation through our website.
You will be helping to fight back against childhood cancer.
Adopt "Issy" to send to a childhood cancer patient, give to a loved one, or keep for yourself.
Help Issy spread the word about the need for childhood cancer research!
Support the BMF through the purchase of merchandise.
Attend any upcoming BMF event!
Please see our National Childhood Cancer Awareness page to find out more.
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*Brian was lovingly cared for at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, the initial focus of the second BMF goal. We still plan to contribute in important ways to the oncology unit there, however, we have expanded our outreach with Brian Baskets and "Issy" bears, sending them to other pediatric cancer patients especially to those in the Altoona Area, Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Geisinger, Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where some of our area children are being treated. We have also tried to brighten up the day for some children from the Ewing's Sarcoma list serv. If you know a child with cancer who could use a "pick-me-up," please contact us at fdj@brianmordenfoundation.org. We hope to be able to help as many pediatric oncology patients as possible.
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last updated 6/11/2020
