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Who We Are...

Lori Arquilla Andersen was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme stage 4 Brain Cancer at the age of 33, just 3 months after she was married. Lori had 5 surgeries, 2 clinical trials, chemo, radiation and many other treatments. She survived for 22 months to the day after her 1^st surgery - passing away on July 5, 2005. She was always upbeat, positive, courageous, smiling and an inspiration to us all. Please click on the lori-erik tab for her story and journey through this devastating disease.

It was Lori’s dream to make a difference in the world. We have been working towards making Lori’s dream a reality by starting the Lori Arquilla Andersen Foundation - live, love, laaf!  Our mission is to raise brain cancer awareness and funds for research in hopes of finding the cure. Our foundation fills a critical need by assisting in an area of cancer research that is currently under funded. At this time, the public remains unaware of the magnitude of this disease.  Each year more than 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor.  Primary brain tumors comprise approximately 41,000 of these diagnoses. Treatment is very different for primary and secondary (metastatic) brain tumors.

Brain tumors are known as “orphan tumors” because few have stepped up to the plate and adopted them as their cause.

Brain tumors have no socio-economic boundaries and do not discriminate among gender or ethnicity. These tumors can change an individual’s personality, his or her ability to communicate, walk, or see. Patients may no longer be able to work, and the impact of a brain tumor affects all those intimately involved with the patient.

There are currently no known causes of brain tumors, however, studies are ongoing.  Complete and accurate data on all primary brain tumors is needed to provide for investigations of its causes and research leading to improved diagnosis and treatment.

The goal of L.A.A.F. fills a critical need because the cure rate for most cancerous brain tumors is significantly lower than that for many other types of cancer. The five-year relative survival rate following diagnosis of a primary malignant brain tumor (excluding some tumor types) is about 30%. However, the average survival rate for patients with glioblastomas (the most aggressive type of brain cancer) is less than 5% and most survive for only for 6-12 months.

Our main sources of financial support come from public donations, corporate sponsorship and fundraising events. We are a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 public charity status. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

There are several ways to make a donation:

·         MAIL to: LAAF 1153 S. Lee Street Suite#201 Des Plaines, IL  60016

·         ONLINE: click on the 'donate now' button at the upper left corner of this screen and make a secure payment through PayPal

·         CHECKS: made payable to L.A.A.F.