This “The Better Place Foundation” was created by Wade and Mandy Lewis in 2021 in response to a diagnosis of glioblastoma brain cancer.

The goal of the foundation has been to leave brain cancer in a
better place than where we found it.



Glioblastoma Facts & Figures

  • Glioblastoma (or GBM) is one of the most complex, deadly, and treatment-resistant cancers.
  • More than 13,000 Americans are expected to receive a GBM diagnosis in 2020.
  • GBM accounts for 48 percent of all primary malignant brain tumors.
  • It is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals in the United States will succumb to glioblastoma every year.
  • The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 6.8 percent, and the average length of survival for glioblastoma patients is estimated to be only 12 to 18 months.
  • Survival rates and mortality statistics for GBM have been virtually unchanged for decades.
  • Despite first being identified in the scientific literature in the 1920’s, there have only been four drugs and one device ever approved by the FDA for the treatment of glioblastoma.
  • None of these treatments have succeeded in significantly extending patient lives beyond a few extra months.
  • In addition to being life-threatening, GBM – and its harsh treatments – inflict devastation upon the brain, which controls cognition, mood, behavior, and every function of every organ and body part.
  • Many patients will lose their ability to work, drive, and a host of other functions that contribute to one’s sense of self and independence.
  • Glioblastoma is also one of the more expensive cancers to treat, often leaving patients and families with major financial hardship on top of the burdens of the disease.

Prominent Americans who’ve been lost to this type of cancer include: Beau Biden (son of former Vice President Joe Biden, and former Attorney General for the state of Delaware); Gary Carter (Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player); U.S. Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy (Democratic politician); U.S. Senator John McCain (Republican politician and former presidential nominee); and Edward “Tug” McGraw (Major League Baseball player and father of country music star and actor, Tim McGraw). https://braintumor.org/take-action/about-gbm/

After Wade’s diagnosis and seeing these statistics,  the Foundation was created.

The Better Place Foundation has three main priorities.

  1. Curing the disease and ending what has become a death sentence diagnosis.

  2. Partnering with established Brain Tumor Charities to provide a better Onboarding experience.

  3. Creating a brain tumor registry for Africa. Africa remains the only continent without its own registry, which results in many detrimental outcomes.

The Better Place Foundation has partnered with Healing Beyond the Horizons to fundraise for the causes, advocate for greater funding and provide hope to those dealing with this devastating disease.

100% of any funds raised we’ll go to one of the three priorities. The Better Place Foundation is exclusively volunteer-based.

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