We are all touched by certain events in our lives.  Some bring great happiness while others bring great despair.  However all life-changing events bring opportunities for positive outcomes.   The JB Blastoff is one of those positive outcomes.

Life dramatically changed for Joseph Basile one morning at his work in 2003 when he was rushed to the hospital after having a grand mal seizure.  Days later his family learned that Joe had about six months to one year to live. 

Being an experienced runner, his daughter Anne Margaret organized the JB Blastoff 5K to raise money for the American Brain Tumor Association as a touching way to honor and remember her dad and all others who’ve been affected by this tragic disease. 

Joseph Basile is no longer with us, but the life change he went through in his last year here on earth touched countless lives and will continue to do so as we kick-off the Third Annual JB Blastoff 5K Run/Walk.

About the American Brain Tumor Association (www.abta.org)

Founded in 1973, the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) was the first national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to brain tumors. For nearly 40 years, the Chicago-based ABTA has provided critical funding to researchers working towa

 American Brain Tumor Association rd breakthroughs in brain tumor diagnosis, treatment and care, and is the only national organization providing comprehensive resources and serving the complex supportive care needs of brain tumor patients and caregivers from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

The mission of the is to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors with the goals of improving, extending and, ultimately, saving the lives of those impacted by a brain tumor diagnosis. This is done through interactions and engagements with brain tumor patients and their families, collaborations with allied groups and organizations, and the funding of brain tumor research.