click for podcast download
Al GustafsonĀ is on the Advisory Council of the Childrenās Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium and serves on the Board of Swifty Foundation, among several others; in addition to his work in ministry, Al is the president of the Gustafson Family Foundation, a private foundation promoting the development and education of young children at risk. Ā His son Michael was diagnosed with medullablastoma which unfortunately recurred after treatment and a declaration of having been cancer free; he knew he would not be here long, and succumbed to the disease in 2013. Ā He shared with his family his excitement at the opportunity to donate his body to science after much introspection as to what his life meant after his prognosis was certain. Ā His vision, to cure brain cancer, and the name Swifty defines the Foundation that has arisen and flourished as a result of his ultimate sacrifice.
Not only is Swifty Foundation successful at raising funds for pediatric brain cancer research, they are designing a program which facilitates urgently needed tissue donation for research. Ā This much-needed program shows promise of having greater implementation on a nationwide basis, and further facilitating the research so urgently needed to save lives.
