Brian's Birthday Gift

My husband, Brian Samuel Agler, died from colorectal cancer at age 31, on June 17, 2020. He never got to meet our son, Sam, who was born six weeks later.

To celebrate Brian's 32nd birthday on February 19, I'm raising money for a cancer organization dedicated to rare cancer research. My hope is that one day, no one will have to endure what Brian did over the past three years, or explain to his or her child why dad is no longer here. 

I hope you will join me in supporting an incredible organization: Brave Like Gabe. 


Brave Like Gabe was founded by elite runner Gabe Grunewald and honors her memory.

The mission at BLG is to support rare cancer research and empower all cancer survivors through physical activity. Although Gabe passed away in 2019, her legacy lives on through all the stories of bravery shared among our community - cancer survivor journeys, caregiver journeys, and the daily journeys we all face that require hope. 


Gabe was brave—and she was incredibly generous with her time, heart, and energy. Even when she was in the thick of her own grief and anxiety over the increasing uncertainty of her health and future, she’d make time in her head and heart for anyone who reached out or needed encouragement. She shared her story even when it was painful to talk about.

Brian was the same way - he volunteered his talents as a writer and speaker for several cancer organizations throughout his illness, even when it was painful to detail what he was going through. He didn't want people to worry about him, and went out of his way to try and make others feel better about how sick he was, usually with a well-placed joke or pun.

Gabe threw herself into creating a future full of effective treatment options for rare cancer patients even when it was unlikely she’d benefit from those treatments. She was brave and she was generous—and she inspires me and so many others to follow her example.

Brave Like Gabe currently supports research through four institutions, and is working to grow our impact in the coming years: 
- Memorial Sloan Kettering
- Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Foundation (Gabe's Cancer)
- University of Minnesota
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Brian received treatment at both Memorial Sloan Kettering and Fred Hutchinson, and he would be so happy that your generosity directly supports these institutions focusing on rare cancer research.

If 313 people can each give $32 in honor of Brian's birthday, we'll meet our goal.

Thank you so much for supporting Brave Like Gabe, and for helping me celebrate Brian's 32nd birthday.