Thank you for your interest in supporting TEAM #NESTORSTRONG over the last seven years!

It is now 2023 and we are still #NESTORSTRONG and "Outrunning Cancer Together!”  Our TEAM has also raised over $50,000.00 for brain cancer research since our BIG Angels debut in April of 2016

As you already know, Nestor Paonessa was diagnosed with a brain tumor in June of 2015. Just days after diagnosis, most of the tumor was surgically removed at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke.  After the craniotomy, the pathology report revealed that the tumor was a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most aggressive, fastest-growing, and deadliest forms of brain cancer.  Nestor immediately began 2.5 weeks of daily intense radiation therapy treatments, followed by occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, a personalized immunotherapy vaccine, and 2 straight years of chemotherapy.  Nestor has been completely free of any and all cancer treatment ever since he completed his last dose of chemo in August of 2017, and recently he "graduated" to having his follow-up brain MRIs every 6 months instead of every 4 or 3 months (which was down from every 2 months earlier in the journey).  Thanks to Drs. Henry and Allan Friedman and the rest of their elite team of researchers, doctors, physician assistants, nurses, and radiologists, Nestor has been empowered to face a historically fatal cancer diagnosis head-on and to fully live the life he envisioned once again.

Read more about Nestor’s story in the July 2016 Cancer Awareness issue of Endurance Magazine: http://magazine.endurancemag.com/HTML5/Endurance-Magazine-LLC-Endurance-Magazine-July-2016

Follow Nestor's journey in his blog here:  http://becomepowerful.com/author/npaonessa/

With Duke’s life-saving help, Nestor has resumed many of his favorite physical activities, including long distance running and hiking. On April 1st, 2017, he completed the Umstead 100-Mile Endurance Run, which he ran to raise funds for Team #NESTORSTRONG, the Angels Among Us 5k, and the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.

Read more about the run in the June 7, 2017 issue of the Duke Chronicle HERE:  http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/06/a-battle-against-100-miles-cancer

Two months after that race, Nestor traveled to Tanzania, Africa, and hiked to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro (the highest freestanding mountain in the world at 19,341 feet of elevation) and then took an African safari – proof that Nestor is still living his best life and benefitting from the cutting-edge treatments at Duke.

Please join us again in this fight against brain cancer so that we can help more people create and experience the life that they envision with access to the life-saving, first-class medical care that Duke provides.

Ways to support TEAM #NESTORSTRONG:

1) Make a secure online donation HERE:  https://www.supportdukehealth.org/site/Donation2?idb=1018215473&df_id=3142&FR_ID=1410&mfc_pref=T&PROXY_ID=23084&3142.donation=form1&PROXY_TYPE=22

2) Run or Walk on TEAM #NESTORSTRONG – JOIN HERE:  https://www.supportdukehealth.org/site/TRR/Angels/AngelsAmongUs/762593981?pg=ptype&fr_id=1410

Thank you for your support of TEAM #NESTORSTRONG and the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke. Your donation and/or participation in Angels Among Us gives survivors HOPE that they too can still chase their dreams and lead a long and fulfilling life; the life that they have envisioned for themselves.

With love and gratitude,

Nestor & Kai Amani Paonessa