About Justin
NBA legend Michael Jordan once said, “Always turn a negative situation into a positive one.” Fourteen year-old athlete and sports fan Justin Friedlander is doing just that.
Justin is a normal 14 year-old boy. And as a healthy youngster, his dreams were not unlike those of others his age. Even now, Justin wrestles with his three brothers and plays with his dog. Break dancing and sports are his passion. While he may be the smallest player on the field, his competitive spirit and drive allow him to excel.
In March 2009, Justin was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor called an optic nerve glioma in the chaism. He and his family were devastated by this life-changing news. But Justin vowed to fight this battle, and merely six weeks after his diagnosis, he helped raise almost $50,000 for brain tumor research and patient services through the Race for Hope-DC.
Justin is also an extraordinary 14 year-old boy. With drive and determination that set him apart from most teens, Justin is on a mission: to find a cure for brain tumors.
About Justin’s Quest
After Justin’s diagnosis, he and his family decided to take action in the fight against brain tumors. So they first took the fight to the basketball court. Justin shot a basket for every person diagnosed with a primary brain tumor this year - 63,000 baskets. In his quest, Justin had the opportunity to shoot hoops with some impressive celebrity figures, including President Barack Obama, Olympian Michael Phelps, NFL stars Renaldo Nehemiah and LaVar Arrington, the University of Maryland Soccer Team, and basketball greats, Darryl Dawkins and Greivis Vasquez. Justin had the pleasure of shooting his final basket with Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2011 NBA All Star Game.
Justin and his family are determined to raise as much money as they can so other families don’t have to experience what they are going through. “Justin and our family are very excited to join forces with Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure," said Jon Friedlander, Justin's father. "We feel this alliance is our best shot to further drive the research down the field and finally find a cure for brain tumors. We look forward to working with this dedicated team and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.”
"Justin and his family have touched and inspired so many people battling brain cancer." said Max Wallace, CEO of Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. "We share Justin's determination, passion and sense of urgency about finding a cure for brain cancer and we're honored to be on his team."
Stay tuned for more details about Justin's next big adventure. Check out Justin's website at www.justinsquest.com. You can support Justin and his quest by donating to cutting-edge research at Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. Click here to donate.
