How We Help

MGH Cancer Research
The Billy Burchard Foundation is very proud to announce that it has been named as an honoree at the upcoming Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center's The One Hundred Event 2010. We have been selected based on our foundation's fund raising efforts which in part support cancer research at MGH. The One Hundred Event 2010 will take place Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 6 PM at The Westin Boston Waterfront, Boston, MA. An extraordinary evening is planned that will recognize 100 individuals, foundations, groups, philanthropists, doctors and nurses, employees, philanthropists, and others who have been instrumental in advancing cancer care and research at MGH.

Each year since our inception in 2007, The Billy Burchard Foundation (TBBF) has been proud to make a significant donation to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), to support its cancer research efforts. The third oldest general hospital in the United States, MGH is consistently ranked amongst the top hospitals in the nation by US News and World Report magazine for the care that it provides. And, most importantly to us, MGH has exhibited a constant commitment to maintaining world class medical research programs. It currently runs the largest hospital based research effort in the United States, a program that spans more than 20 clinical departments/centers. Historically, researchers at MGH have received a wide variety of honors for making significant scientific break throughs, many of which have been credited with transforming patient care. Among the awards that MGH doctors and scientists have recently received are the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, and the NIH New Innovator and Pioneer Awards.

It is this reputation for providing superb medical care, combined with its well known research effort, which led Billy to seek out the help of MGH at the time of his diagnosis. Further, it is this excellence which we have witnessed firsthand, that now motivates TTBF to support the cancer research program at MGH. Our annual donation is primarily directed to the hospital’s Tucker Gosnell Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers. The Gosnell Center is a renowned gastrointestinal cancer research and treatment center that experiences nearly 15,000 patient visits per year. The center’s co-directors are two physicians who were instrumental in Billy’s care; his surgeon, Dr. Carlos Fernandez-Del Castillo, and his oncologist, Dr. David P. Ryan.

Of special interest to us is a current collaboration involving doctors from the Gosnell Center and other MGH departments that is specifically aimed at pancreatic cancer. Working with other MGH affiliated laboratories headed by Dr. Nabeel Bardeesey, PhD, Dr. Sarah Thayer, MD, PhD, and Dr. Aram Hezel, MD,this work is utilizing a three pronged approach, where the first step is to develop models that define the genetic abnormalities present in pancreatic cancer. Next, the process calls for identifying targets within those models that can be reached and altered. Finally, the task moves to designing and creating new therapeutics to successfully interact with the intended targets.

"Pancreatic Cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the US. The $180,000.00 donated by the Billy Burchard Foundation provided critical seed money for new projects related to basic and translational research in pancreatic cancer at the Massachusetts General Hospital"

Carlos Fernández-del Castillo, M.D.
Director, Pancreas and Biliary Surgery Program
Massachusetts General Hospital

Camp Sunshine
The Billy Burchard Foundation sponsored a week of fun at Camp Sunshine for two children with cancer and their families.

"I can't imagine there is a place on Earth more filled with love than here at Camp Sunshine."

Mother of an 8 year-old
Living with cancer since age 3 in a thank-you letter to us

AstraZeneca Hope Lodge®
The New England Division of the American Cancer Society finished construction of the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center® in Boston last autumn. On October 29, 2008 they opened their doors to begin providing 40 newly constructed suites for free, temporary lodging and support for cancer patients undergoing outpatient treatment in any Boston hospital. On October 1, 2008 we had a ribbon cutting ceremony for "The Billy Suite" and took a tour of the facility. Without a doubt, the Hope Lodge will be a great source of relief and comfort for cancer patients and their family members, who live too far from the city to make the drive for their needed therapies.

Hope Lodge Opens

"The Billy Burchard Foundation’s generous commitment to the American Cancer Society's AstraZeneca Hope Lodge® Center in Boston is sincerely appreciated and will help make a home away from home and a true place of hope and healing in Boston."

Thomas P. Sellers
CFO, New England Division American Cancer Society, AstraZeneca Hope Lodge® Center Project Manager

Pan Mass Challenge Kids
The Billy Burchard Foundation donated to the 'Birdie Bikers', a couple of young neighbors of Billy, and their friends, who wanted to honor him by raising funds with riding in the PMC Kids bicycle race. Like the adults who ride, the children raise money for life saving cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The Neely House
The Neeley House provides Bed and Breakfast-style lodging to cancer patients under-going treatment at Tuft's Medical Center, if they live too far from the city to make the commute. We were proud to sponsor a number of families, to help ease the stress, inconvenience and expense in their healing.