Help Brianna Marin Fight Brain Cancer

This past June, we were devastated to hear that our beloved Brianna Marin–just 31-years old–has been diagnosed with Grade 4 Glioblastoma, the most advanced, aggressive, and deadly type of brain cancer.

Today, we’re asking you to join us in donating whatever you can to help Bri and her beautiful family as she wages the fight of her life–the fight for her life.

Whether you know Bri from growing up together in Roslindale, as a classmate at Mount Alvernia High School, or as a colleague at PeopleSERVE, where she’s a dedicated HR manager, you know that Bri is one of the most joyful, kind-hearted, selfless, hopeful–and fun!--people you’ll ever meet.

She found the love of her life in Josh McDewell, from Billerica. Their eight wonderful years together have been filled with hikes in the Blue Hills, summers in North Truro overlooking Cape Cod Bay, and tending to their garden in their new home in Norton. Devoted parents, Bri and Josh are raising two beautiful children–five-year-old Jackson and three-year-old Juliette.

After the shock of the diagnosis, Bri is blessed to be receiving world-class care from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Surgeons were able to remove some of the tumor–but not most of it. She’s begun intensive treatment–radiation and her first round of chemo. Josh–an estimator at Timberline Construction and a talented craftsman–has already built a ramp to help Bri get in and out of their house more easily.

The road ahead will be hard, but your donation will make a huge difference for Bri and her family.

Although insurance will cover most medical expenses, Bri and Josh will face many new financial burdens. Your donation will help with expenses like medical costs not covered by insurance, making their home more accessible, childcare, care of home, groceries, and medical leave.

Bri has always embraced life with optimism, grace, and humor, and we’ve been in awe of how she’s facing this fight the same way. The morning after her surgery, as she watched the sun rise over Boston, she came across an Instagram post about finding “glimmers” (the opposite of triggers)--those small moments each day that bring us joy, comfort, and peace.

“I’m very realistic about my diagnosis and what the timeline could be,” she told us. “But I’ve always looked for the glimmers in life. I can sit here and be miserable, or I can try to be positive. I want to be happy with the time that I’m given, live in the moment, and find peace with what I have.”

That includes Jackson, who loves exploring the woods behind their house, searching for frogs, and bringing home rocks that sit in an ever-growing pile by the back door, and Juliette, who loves butterflies, unicorns, and mermaids–as Bri puts it, “all things magical.”

“I don’t know if I’ll get to go to all of Jackson’s and Juliette’s graduations,” Bri says, “but I can go to Family Fun Day at their school today. I can snuggle with them on the couch tonight. I’m still here, so I might as well enjoy the time that I have and pass along that positivity to other people. That’s good for everyone.”

Yeah, Brianna Marin is an inspiration.

Bri has always been our glimmer. In this difficult time, please join us in helping her continue to shine.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for anything you can give to support Bri, Josh, Jackson, and Juliette. Thank you for sharing this with anyone you think would like to help, too. And we’ll be sure to share updates in the days and months ahead.

With love and gratitude,

Family and friends of Brianna Marin