Sixth Annual University of Washington
Brain Tumor Research Benefit Golf Tournament

Tournament Information

The Van P. Wilson Family and Dr. Alexander Spence at the University of Washington School of Medicine would like to invite you to participate and/or support the 6th Annual Brain Tumor Research Golf Tournament in honor of Van P. Wilson.

This year’s tournament will be held at Lake Wilderness Golf Course in Maple Valley on September 19th, 2005.

"Lake Wilderness' short, narrow fairways test all skill levels as well as reward the accurate shotmaker. The large fir trees surrounding the course create a beautiful setting."

Over the past few of years we have raised in excess of $15,000 for brain tumor research.

All proceeds from the tournament will benefit The Neurology Tumor Fund for Brain Tumor Research. Each year there are about 15,000 new cases of primary brain tumors in the United States. Over half of these are malignant with survival lasting a few months to 2-4 years. Radiotherapy has extended survival for months up to about 2 years while Chemotherapy approaches have only added months. Brain tumor research at the University of Washington aims to develop a better understanding of the cause and progression of brain tumors so that better rational therapies can be developed and tested.

Van P. Wilson was part of this struggle and due to the ongoing research of Dr. Spence and the team at UW, Van managed to fight his struggle for 5 years after an initial survival estimate of 3-6 months. Sadly, he lost his battle on August 3, 2000.

We are making gains in improving survival but we need to add years not months, and cures not remissions. We need to press on with intensive research, all of which is very expensive. Because brain tumors are less common than many other types of tumors such as lung or prostate cancer, less funding gets directed toward brain tumor research.

Over the past few years we have raised in excess of $15,000 for brain tumor research. This year we hope to exceed $20,000, but we need your help! These donations suport our research in developing new methods of imaging, testing new treatments, and analyzing the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of brain tumors.

We are extremely thankful to be supported by individuals who band together to contribute to help us progress more rapidly. All donations and sponsorships are tax deductible. Product donations should be coordinated with Kelly Holliman.