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Cleveland Clinic Martin Health Foundation receives $40,000 gift for glioblastoma research

September 11, 2020

Photo of check presentation at Tradition Hospital

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020: Family and friends of Lenny Schelin, Jr. presented Cleveland Clinic Martin Health with a $40,000 gift at Tradition Hospital on August 31. The funds will help support research into glioblastoma, an aggressive form of malignant brain tumor.

Schelin Jr. passed away in 2018 at the age of 33 from glioblastoma. His mother, Debbie Johnston, describes her son as well loved and “a charmer.” An avid fisherman, The Lenny Schelin Jr. Memorial Tournament helps keep his legacy alive.

“We’re hoping through this foundation and through this donation that maybe we can make some headway into finding a cure,” said Johnston.

Schelin Jr.’s family wanted to keep the gift in their community. When they learned Cleveland Clinic was opening the Florida Research and Innovation Center in Port St. Lucie, Johnston says their decision to give to The Clinic was an easy one. “That was exactly what we wanted to do with the money.”

Scientific Director Michaela Gack, Ph.D. heads the Florida Research and Innovation Center. She says that this gift can help researchers at the center, as well as clinicians at Tradition Hospital, investigate new ways to target and block the growth of glioblastoma cells.

“I think this can make a great impact here on research,” said Gack.

The Florida Research and Innovation Center complements and expands research underway at the Florida health system’s five hospitals and the Lerner Research Institute, which is home to 190 laboratories on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus in Cleveland, Ohio. The scientific teams closely collaborate, tapping into resources at both facilities to develop new treatments for patients around the globe.

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About Cleveland Clinic Florida Region

The Cleveland Clinic Florida region is a nonprofit, multi-specialty healthcare provider that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. The Florida region now includes Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, and Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, with five hospitals and numerous outpatient centers in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The Florida region is an integral part of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where providing outstanding patient care is based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic are experts in the treatment of complex conditions that are difficult to diagnose. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Florida, visit www.clevelandclinicflorida.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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