​

With a median life expectancy of 12-18 months after diagnosis, many patients find themselves feeling hopeless and overwhelmed.  Despite these overwhelming odds, Barbara chose to fight because that's the type of person she was.  Although her fight was ultimately cut short, her participation in clinical trials through Dana-Farber and her unrelenting spirit inevitably helped the ongoing research in the battle against glioblastoma.  Anyone that knew Barbara would tell you she always put others first and was the first one to lend a helping hand in a time of need.  Even after her diagnosis she never pitied herself, she never stopped to complain, and despite everything, she continued to think about eeryone else first and foremost.

Julie Hart was Barbara's mother, and despite the rarity of the disease and it's lack of genetic markers, she too suffered and ultimately died of the same cancer.  After finding out about her mother's health issues, Barbara dropped everything and flew to Arizona to be with her mom.  After Julies diagnosis, Barbara and her husband Tom, reconstructed their entire lives to take care of her, and Julie moved in with them.  Barbara took her to every appointment, cooked every meal for her, and was there for her twenty-four seven, all while raising two young children.  Never once did she complain, never once did she think about herself, and never once did she give up hope.  Barbara was an incredible daughter, wife, mother, friend, and so much more. 

It is our hope and our goal that, through this fundraiser, and hopefully many more in the future, we can not only help the Dana-Farber glioblastoma research foundation find a cure for glioblastoma but also carry on Barbara's legacy as a strong, caring, and amazing woman.