"The Foundation's mission supports the expansion of canine brain tumor clinical trials as a way to expedite treatment options for humans and dogs, as well as supporting research into other diseases common to humans and dogs." -BooRadleyFoundation.org
The Dog Behind the Cause
It all started when a beloved seven year old black labrador retriever, Boo, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBD), a type of brain tumor, in the fall of 2009. Upon discovering that this type of tumor is also commonly found in human patients, Boo's owner, Ken Johnson, began a seven month, 12,000 mile long journey that took him to three clinics and enrolled Boo in multiple clinical trials. Some of these clinical trials originally conducted on canines are now approved for human clinical trials.
When Boo passed, Ken Johnson knew that he wanted to continue to support the forefront of cancer research. 2011 saw the beginning of the Boo Radley Foundation. This non-profit charitable organization is dedicated to supporting clinical trials and research targeted at developing effective treatments of canine diseases and illnesses, specifically those that are seen in humans as well.