About TeamBrent

brentTeamBrent was created in 2005 to battle childhood cancer alongside 3 year old Brent who was fighting stage IV Neuroblastoma. Today he is a survivor with little recollection of his treatment.  Brent is focused on school, work & captaining his college chess team, 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 thousands of people who want to each do their part to fight childhood cancer. TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  TeamBrent has raised 10.8 million dollars to fight childhood cancer. This money matters.

More children are lost to cancer in the U.S. than any other disease—in fact, more than many other childhood diseases combined.  Every 2 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. Before they turn 20, about 1 in 263 children in the U.S. will have cancer.  Many adult cancers can be prescreened for/ diagnosed early. In 80% of kids however, cancer has already spread to other areas of the body by the time it is diagnosed.

Because of major advances in recent decades, 85% of kids with cancer now survive 5+ years (survival rate).  While this is a huge increase since the mid-1970s (58%).  Read that again - this is amazing.  What we do MATTERS!  But we have ways to go - and the battle is not over for survivors.  Almost all will have chronic health problems from the treatment that saved their lives.  So in addition to finding cures, research is focused on preventing damage from surgeries, radiation and chemotherapies given while young bodies and brains are just developing.

Yet childhood cancer receives such a small part of monies from groups that are not purely dedicated to children. And that is ok - monies are needed to fight ALL cancers.  Kids need parents and doctors and friends!  But we also need monies directed at childhood cancers.  It is so important to support organizations dedicated to children.

At age two, Brent was diagnosed w/stage iv neuroblastoma w/ 15-20% odds of survival. Today, Brent is 21, we’ve raised millions via our events, and a kid with his diagnosis has 60+% odds. Brent is here because others funded research. We currently have more great research to enact than monies to fund it. Let’s change that! 

TeamBrent's two flagship focuses are St. Baldrick's & the PanMassChallenge.

We hold head shaving events for the St. Baldrick's Foundation where participants shave their heads in exchange for donations towards research. It's a simple concept, a fun time and a very effective fundraiser, with each participant raising awareness and funds to fight childhood cancer and becoming a walking billboard for the cause.  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.  How great do we think the St. Baldrick's Foundation is?  TeamBrent's own Mike McCreesh had a term as the Chairman of the Board for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. Now that is commitment.  In 2020, after 15 years of events, we replaced our flagship event with new events run by our shavees.

We also ride the PanMassChallenge. The big ride is the nation's original fundraising bike-a-thon and today raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country. Through its various events, the PMC has contributed a breathtaking 970 million dollars to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since its founding in 1980. While overall PMC funds go towards fighting cancer in general at the Dana Farber, TeamBrent’s monies target neuroblastoma.  We partner with Dr. Lisa Diller MD, clinical director and chief medical officer of DFCI/BCH and Suzanne Shusterman, Institute Physician and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School to use our funds most effectively.   Team funds have helped create a personalized approach for neuroblastoma patients at DFCI; are helping to launch a vaccine to fight neuroblastoma; and helped build a dedicated treatment room to deliver targeted MIBG/radiotherapy program to relapsed & newly diagnosed Neuroblastoma patients - and so much more.  This research team at DFCI/BCH has really made a difference, with hundreds of children being treated thanks to therapies provided by our small team.   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.  Check out our PMC page for details on the various PMC events.

Laurie H. Glimcher, DFCI President and CEO, said “Progress against cancer comes in waves: As new therapies come to the fore, others take shape in the distance. It’s this continuum that makes our work so challenging, and so rewarding.” Look at Brent to see how this holds true for our team.  Brent was treated decades ago with genomics- chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants.  TBW riders have helped fund immunotherapy treatments (MIGB, GVAX).  Yet even as we further those learnings, we are studying promising epigenetics treatments (ANTI-GD2, MYCN, TRK). http://www.dana-farber.org/newsroom/publications/paths-of-progress-2018/

Yes, TeamBrent focuses on St. Baldrick’s iand the PMC , but we are broader than that. We fight all year long. We have run marathons, had CrossFit style events, spin classes, tag sales, hockey tournaments, Brentapalooza music festivals, bake sales, lemonade stands, game drives, youth obstacle course events and so much more.  Is it fun?  We're in!

We ARE making a difference.

We don't just raise money.  We raise awareness too...

TeamBrent  spread awareness through a national Neuroblastoma PSA which 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.

TeamBrent 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 registered 116 people for the Be the Match bone marrow registry.

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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 recognizes all of the members – as TeamBrent is nothing more than a collection of great, genuine, positive, make a difference people. Channeled. Together we make a difference.

Suffield Academy - 2018-19 charity partner

TeamBrent was honored to be chosen as Suffield Academy's charity partner and get to spread awareness to our future leaders.  Suffield students and faculty raised funds through a telethon, Color Wars, head shaving and more.

Princess Ball 2008 - 2023, charity partner

TeamBrent is honored to be a chosen charity for the Princess Ball, where the next generation of philanthropic girls dances the night away with the most important men in their lives, while raising awareness and money for local children's charities.

NYSE Opening & Closing Bell 2014-2023
Team members have been fortunate enough to be a part of these ceremonies alongside other PMC members.

NYSE Opening & Closing Bell 2017
Team member Alan Turner was recognized for his 25 years of riding and rang the closing bell for the NYSE.

Belabor Restoration Golf Tournament 2017
TeamBrent rider Jeremy Browning was sponsored at this annual fundraiser in which  over 120 golfers participated.

Moffly Light a Fire Award 2014, Best Health Advocates Award

PMC Heavy Hitter Keynote Speakers 2011 

Vineyard Vines fall catalogue 2010,  two page feature, Click here to view.

Channel 12 Hometown Heroes April 2009, extensive segment aired repeatedly

Fatherhood Award 2008, National Fatherhood Initiative, Washington DC -
awarded to Mike McCreesh for TeamBrent/ Previous Awardees include Tom Selleck, James Earl Jones, Alan Thick; Dr. Stephen Covey, Neil Cavuto, FedEx CEO Fred Smith, NBA player Allan Houston, NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett and more.

Kochan Award 2007
awarded to Michael and Dana McCreesh for TeamBrent/  Dr. Kochan 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.

Best Life Magazine Hero Dad Award 2007
awarded to Mike McCreesh for TeamBrent/ Award for those making a difference.

Key to a Cure Saks/Greenwich 2007
Dana McCreesh represented TeamBrent as on of four models for CancerCare of Connecticut for its Viva La Cure Fashion Show at Saks Fifth Avenue, Greenwich CT, for making a difference to the cause.