Our Story
Founded by brain tumor survivor Joelle Syverson in 2004, Humor to Fight the Tumor was created to honor God while raising funds and awareness for brain tumors. With the support of her sister Kristin Gabriel and friends, the inaugural event has evolved into a powerful movement, raising over $7 million for brain tumor research and patient services through partnerships with the American Brain Tumor Association, the University of Minnesota, and Mayo Clinic. This entirely volunteer-driven initiative has grown significantly, with a board and committee primarily composed of brain tumor survivors and caregivers.