About TeamBrent

TeamBrent was created in 2005 to battle childhood cancer alongside 3 year old Brent who was fighting stage iv Neuroblastoma. Today he is a survivor who has no recollection of his treatment, and his worries are about scoring goals in soccer, not about keeping his platelets up so he can get chemo – but the fight goes on. Brent is living proof that your efforts make a difference. It is our hope that someday no child dies of cancer.

We all rest in the shade of trees we did not plant

His family couldn’t have made it through his treatment without their incredible friends, family and community. All of that positive energy was motivating for the family, who drew strength from the support. So many people wanted to help fight the disease – all that energy and strength was channeled into what we now call TeamBrent.

TeamBrent is a group of hundreds and hundreds of people who want to each do their part to fight childhood cancer. “Together we make a difference.” And we do. TeamBrent has raised almost five million dollars to fight childhood cancer. This money makes a difference in the fight. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in the US. Every 3 ½ minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. Every 4 hours a child loses their life to childhood cancer. Yet childhood cancer receives such a small part of monies from events that are not purely dedicated to children. And that is ok – monies are needed to fight ALL cancers. But please keep in mind that: the American Cancer Society directed less than $0.005 (half a penny) to childhood cancer research for every dollar of public support  (Total public support: $1,008,000,000 and total directed at childhood cancer research: $4,200,000 . Source:ACS ); the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society directed $0.02 to childhood cancer research for every dollar of public support (Total public support: $287,625,00 and total directed at childhood cancer research: almost $6,000,000. Source LLS ); and the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) federal budget last year was $4.6 billion. Of that, breast cancer received 12%, prostate cancer received 7%, and all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers combined received less than 3%. That is why it is important to support those organizations AND events like this. Funding through events like this, dedicated to children, makes a real difference. Forty years ago a child diagnosed with cancer had less than a ten percent chance of survival – today 78% overall are cured. We need to continue this trend.

Our two flagship events are St. Baldrick’s and the PanMassChallenge.

We shave heads each year for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, yes – shave heads. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation raises awareness and funds to fight childhood cancer. Participants in a St. Baldrick’s event shave their heads in exchange for donations towards research. It’s a simple concept, a fun time and a very effective fundraiser. Since 2000, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has raised over $87 million!! Over 144,000 volunteers– including over 12,000 women– have shaved their heads in solidarity with children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family – each one becoming a walking billboard for the cause. Simply incredible. The monies go to fight all types of childhood cancer, everywhere. The generosity and spirit during this event amaze us. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation does so much good with their money – St. Baldrick’s funds more childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. Government (including grants to Yale’s Pediatric Oncology department, many fellowships for Neuroblastoma research and grants for its new initiative, survivorship.)

We also ride the PanMassChallenge. This is the nation’s original fundraising bike-a-thon and today raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country. In January, riders commit to ride 192 miles in the August bike ride, and they collect pledges to do this. It is an amazing time. The PMC has contributed $303 million to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since its founding in 1980. TeamBrent has partnered with Dr. Lisa Diller, Clinical Director of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston; Chief Medical Officer, Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, to build a dedicated treatment room to deliver targeted MIBG/radiotherapy program to relapsed Neuroblastoma children at DFCI. This is huge, this is real, and this is wonderful. The PMC now donates 100 % of every rider raised dollar – a pass-through rate that is nearly unparalleled in the $1.5 billion athletic fundraising event industry.

Yes, TeamBrent focuses on St. Baldrick’s in the spring and the PMC in the late summer, but we are broader than that. We try to fight all year long. We walk Relay for Life, we run marathons, we hold Brentapalooza (music fest), we have hockey tournaments, triathlons, we hold trunk shows, bake sales, lemonade stands, game drives and so much more.

We ARE making a difference.

And we don’t just raise money.we raise awareness too…

TeamBrent has spread awareness through a national Neuroblastoma ad. We partnered with the heads of CureSearch to create a site to support it. The PSA ran in millions of copies of InStyle, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Town and Country, Business Week, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, Money, Fortune Small Business and Inc throughout the US. Millions of copies.

TeamBrent has spread awareness seven years in a row through an ad in the Fairfield County editions of Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and The Week promoting our St. Baldrick’s celebration (60,000 + impacts each year).

And we help in other ways..

TeamBrent has helped others via much needed blood and platelet donations. The impact of this cannot be overstated. During Brent’s treatment he received blood and platelet transfusions nearly every other day. He was one child going through treatment. The amount of blood and platelets needed for childhood cancer patients is astronomical and this is something we can all do to help.

TeamBrent has many members who may actually SAVE A LIFE, as they have registered to be bone marrow donors.

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TeamBrent Recognition

TeamBrent has received numerous honors from organizations for their efforts to fund research for pediatric cancer. It truly is a group effort and each award, while perhaps given in name to a TeamBrent founder, is really for the members – as TeamBrent is nothing more than a collection of great, genuine, positive, make a difference people. Channeled. Together we make a difference.

PMC Heavy Hitter Keynote Speakers 2011 
TeamBrent was absolutely honored to be chosen as keynote speakers for the 2011 PMC Heavy Hitter Dinner. The Heavy Hitter Dinner is a special event to thank the PMC’s largest fundraisers.

Princess Ball 2008 – 2011
TeamBrent was chosen as a charity recipient for the Princess Ball a series of formal-father daughter galas held to benefit local charities. The mission of the Princess Ball is to celebrate the next generation of philanthropic girls as they dance the night away with the most important man in their life, while raising awareness and money for local children’s charities.

Vineyard Vines 2010
TeamBrent was honored to have a two page feature in the fall Vineyard Vines catalog. Click here to view.

Channel 12 Hometown Heroes 2009
TeamBrent was selected to be a Hometown Hero in April. An extensive segment on the team was aired repeatedly on news channel 12, highlighting what the team has done to help children, and asking others to come join the fight.

Fatherhood Award 2008, National Fatherhood Initiative – Watch NBC Video
Mike McCreesh was presented with this award in Washington DC. T he Fatherhood Awards are presented each year to individuals, corporations, and organizations that make a substantial contribution to the strengthening of involved, responsible, and committed fatherhood. Previous individual Awardees include actors Tom Selleck, James Earl Jones and Alan Thick; best selling author Dr. Stephen Covey; News anchors Tim Russert and Neil Cavuto ; FedEx CEO Fred Smith; President and Publisher of Forbes Magazine James Berrien; NBA player Allan Houston; NFL players Cris Carter, Orlando Pace, Jim Kelly, and Mike Singletary ; pollster George Gallup; NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett; and Gunnery Sergeant Kevin Andrade.

Kochan Award 2007
Michael and Dana McCreesh were the recipients of the 2007 Kochan award. Dr. Kochan was a dedicated professional who valued service to his community and the profession of dentistry. Each year an award is given in his honor to celebrate the efforts of people who work tirelessly to improve the world around them. TeamBrent was chosen for its intense community involvement, the embodiment of “service above self.”

Best Life Hero Dad Award 2007
Mike McCreesh was the recipient of Best Life magazine’s Hero Dad award. An award for those making a difference at home, at work and in their communities, and whose personal journeys contained defining moments and significant obstacles. TeamBrent was featured in Best Life magazine, and on Fox News (national), the Today in NY show,Westport magazine, the CT Post, the Fairfield Minuteman and the Fairfield Citizen.

Key to a Cure Saks/Greenwich 2007
Dana McCreesh was chosen by CancerCare of Connecticut as one of four volunteer models for its Viva La Cure Fashion Show at Saks Fifth Avenue, Greenwich CT. The women were recognized by CancerCare of Connecticut for making a difference to the cause.