There’s a big breakthrough in cancer research — we may be on the verge of a cure for prostate cancer! It’s a topic that is very close to the hearts of father and son restaurant owners Tony and Russell Masraff. And guess what? The ground-breaking developments began right here in Uptown, at Masraff’s on the Boulevard.
With “nothing to treat and everything to cure,” this dynamic duo has spearheaded this cause ever since Tony himself was diagnosed with the disease over a decade ago. Shortly after, in 2002, he founded Tony’s Prostate Cancer Research (TPCR), his non-profit that spends 100% of every dollar donated or raised to fund more research for a cure.
And now — we’re so close! I met with Dr. Timothy Thompson at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and he said he’s never seen anything this promising. While prostate cancer is known to be handed down from generation to generation, these scientists have managed to isolate a protein we all produce and use it to cure prostate cancer in rats. Essentially this “GLIPR1” protein is finding the cancer cells in the rats, binding to the proteins that cause the cancer and eliminating the cells! Just incredible…
Tony Masraff’s first fundraiser to find a cure was the Chevron Houston Marathon, where by the time he was ready to start, he already had over $140,000 dollars in pledges from customers, friends and family.
Never being a ‘running type’ as Tony jokes, he was unsure of himself at first. And, in dramatic fashion, collapsed near the finish line and actually crawled his way to completion…WOW! Needless to say, his triumphant finish set the stage for further research, and today he and Russell continue to work around the clock to raise money for the next phase: FDA human trials.
Most of this money comes from private donation, however the family also hosts two major fundraisers per year: their annual Redstone golf tournament each spring, and on September 27, 2014 an AMAZING Evening of Hope – Wine Extravaganza. The event is set to feature over 90 wineries, amazing fare from Masraff’s, live and silent auctions and live music. Let’s be a part of history shall we!
More information can be found on Tony’s foundation website at: tpcr.org. Tony is also a prostate patient advocate at MD Anderson, and has made himself personally available to anyone who calls. His cell phone number is included at the end of our video, and can also be found on the website listed above.
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