MESOTHELIOMA APPLIED RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
Invite reviews
MARF is an awesome organization that truly cares about the patient as well as the care givers. They work really hard along with their members to get the word out regarding this orphaned disease and the research money it so badly needs to find a cure! If it was not for MARF I'm not sure how I would have survived these past 3 years! My husband was diagnosised on 8/31/06 and the foundation and it's resources have been terrific!!!!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my own family and friends of educating them as to what Meso is.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
have a symposium on the east coast - Boston
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the caring people and volunteers
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
GREAT and INFORMATIVE
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
surely have research monies to find a cure or new treatments!
Ways to make it better...
I was more outgoing and could get my community more involved in MARF
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
financial
One thing I'd also say is that...
we should never give up!!!!!!!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I attended the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundations Symposium in Washington DC in June 2009. I was impressed by the dedication of all involved. The Symposium was for patients, caregivers, doctors and researchers. Whatever the persons involvement, they were there with their whole heart. I was surprised to see so many people who have lost loved ones to Mesothelioma still so involved in the Foundation. It speaks alot to their dedication to finding a cure for meso. I was there as a volunteer and I know I will continue to help the Foundation in their fight to help ban asbestos and help to fund research to find a cure.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
patients recieving the correct medical attention from a specialist in Mesothelioma. Great strides in research from grants from the Foundation.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the total involvement of the staff, patients, doctors and researchers.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
caring and helpful.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
help find a cure for mesothelioma.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I have had the privilage of working with people at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) since it began. It has literally helped to save hundreds of lives by giving not only hope but by actually giving advice to patients who are fighting an orphan disease. Most, if not all patients are told there is nothing that can be done for them when the are diagosised with this horrific cancer and given about 6 months to live. MARF not only given them HOPE but also helps with "scholoships" to help patients that don't have the means to get to their first doctors appointment. There are only a handful of specialiest that treat this disease and MARF raises more awareness and funding than government ever has. Having just lost my husband this past April to mesothelioma, I can tell that the MARF organization is an organization that is not only needed but is a lifeline for many that have no place else to turn. shellysbelieving
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
it is my belief that many lives have been saved and will continue to be saved.Many patients that have this disease have little or no information about this disease and are told to go home and die.MARF not only gives HOPE they give them valuable resources
More feedback...
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
Mesothelioma has affected a dear friend of mine. Knowing about this disease, where it comes from, how we as Americans can stop others from being diagnosed and hopefully finding a cure. . . . has changed my life significantly. Julie Gunlach, a Mesothelioma "diagnosee" loves life more than almost any other person I know. She is an intelligent, loving, beautiful, courageous, brave, mother, daughter, sister, wife and wonderful friend. She deserves a cure as does everyone else diagnosed with this disease and everyone else in the future diagnosed.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
X
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
X
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
X
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
MARF brings patients & families from the dark pit of no knowledge about a diagnosis of mesothelioma into the light of hope & treatment! Most patients diagnosed with meso are told there's no effective treatment available. There is & MARF has the connections to it! They have a talented, tuely caring nurse/practioner to work with patients & their families. The best specialists for this terrible cancer can be found through MARF. My daughter is a survivor & I am now a volunteer offering support where & how ever I can. I also advocate for awareness about asbestos & mesothelioma. The MARF staff genuinely care for their cause & the people they help. They do a great job of funding research to find better treatments &, hopefully a cure. The on-line community formed on the MARF web site really care for each other & offer hope, support, knowledge, comfort, & love. Everyone with a horrific illness like meso should be so lucky as those who find this foundation! Whether or not my cancer recurs I will continue to work as a volunteer & stay connected to my MARF "family".
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
patients lives saved who were told elsewhere that no treatment for mesothelioma was available.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
try to advertise more so that more mesothelioma patients found this foundation.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the differences made in peoples lives when they realize that there is hope.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
knowledgable, proffesional, dedicated, & caring.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
advertise to reach more patients & fund more research projects.
Ways to make it better...
I could find better ways to raise funds so that more research projects could continue.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
fund raising to continue the search for better treatments & a cure.
One thing I'd also say is that...
the government needs to ban asbestos & fully fund mesothelioma research, all things that MARF works to make happen.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
In 2002, I was at what I thought was the peak of my life. I was a 52 year old nurse with a great career. I was weeks away from marrying the love of my life, and we had just bought our dream home together. I was physically active, an avid hiker, biker, snorkeler and free diver, and my fiancee and I looked forward to traveling the world together. My happiness was boundless. The only problem was a nagging cold that I couldn't seem to get rid of - my doctor felt antibiotics would do the trick, but took a chest xray "just in case". That xray was the key to a nightmare whose name was malignant pleural mesothelioma, a lethal type of cancer. My professional training, my doctors, and every thing I read on the Internet told me I was doomed to die within months - maybe a year if I was lucky. I have never felt so alone or so afraid, or so without hope. I could not stop crying. But then I found MARF - the Mesothelioma Foundation, and a small light began to shine in all the darkness that surrounded me. Here were people who gave me hope, information on treatment options that could help me, and put me in contact with other patients like myself. And they stayed with me, every step of the way, cheering me on and telling me not to give up. That was over 7 years ago. It has not been an easy road to travel, but I have never had to travel it alone - not for an instant. My fiance stuck with me (and became my husband) and so did the people at MARF. The clinical information they provided never failed to help me identify cutting edge treatments that gave me a fighting chance to live. Their unwavering support and encouragement saw me through the rough spots. They buoyed my spirits by sharing both my highs and my lows with unconditional compassion. Without this organization, I am certain I would have curled up into a terrified ball, given up, and died. I will never be able to adequately describe what they gave me: they gave me HOPE, the sweetest gift there is. They gave me back my life.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The hope engendered in patients and families who thought they had no where to turn and no hope for survival. People literally say to me that MARF "saved their lives". I know this to be true and not hyperbole, as it happened to me as well!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Try to make the public more aware of the risks that everyone faces of developing mesothelioma.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Communicating with other patients and families. Helping them helps me to grow.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Overwhelmingly dedicated and kind.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Help more people, maybe even help find a cure for mesothelioma.
Ways to make it better...
I had known about this organization earlier.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Increasing public awareness and finding funding in the current financial climate.
One thing I'd also say is that...
Thank you MARF for my life!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
In January 2009, my Grampy was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, an awful cancer caused by asbestos. I had seen the commercials on tv about Meso but really did not know or understand it. We were told he had 5 months and left with no options and little hope. I decided to take to the internet. I stumbled upon the MARF website and it was a miracle. I learned about Meso and learned that there is some hope. I signed up for a book "100 Questions and Answers" and received it in about a week. The book was free and after I read it, I passed it on to my Grampy. He had more hope after reading that book than he did since he was disgnosed. My family has been passing the book on and it is on the 8th person now (with 20 to go). After signing up on the website, a nurse called to make sure I was getting the answers I needed. I genuinely felt like I was no longer alone, struggling for answers. As a young adult, I am a member of facebook. MARF has a page and I got to contribute by helping them raise money by adding friends. In a little over 3 months their members have increased by over 20,000! MARF is a great foundation helping to spread the world that Mesothelioma is an awful disease but one that can be fought! They have given me an opportunity to help, comfort and most importantly, they have given my Grampy hope.
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
how they show people affected by this disease that they care. My Grampy had no hope until we found this organization.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
keep spreading the word and letting people know that asbestos is around us. It needs to be made illegal!
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Although Mesothelioma is thought of as an "old person's disease" they keep current with facebook and other sites to keep young people involved.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
caring, honest and helpful! They all went out of their way to make sure I got the information I needed.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
research to find a cure for this currently uncurable form of cancer.
Ways to make it better...
there was a cure for Meso!
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
awareness and fundraising. Since Mesothelioma affects fewer people than other types of cancers, it does not get the attention it deserves. Also, since it affects fewer people, it is harder to raise money to find a cure.
One thing I'd also say is that...
Mesothelioma is an awful disease. It is painful and watching someone you love deal with it is heartbreaking. MARF helps with that heartbreak. Please help the cause!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
Filter by reviewer role:
Support This Nonprofit
Help this nonprofit get more reviews
5 tips for getting reviews