Indelible

Nothing reveals true character more than adversity, and cancer undoubtedly ranks among the worst adversity that life can throw at us. But you’d never know this if you had the good fortune of meeting David N. April, who battled renal cancer with unmatched grace and virtually zero self-pity for nearly ten years before it eventually took him from us in December of 2023. David’s uncanny positivity was abundantly clear to me when I first met him to shoot his portrait for Legacy of Hope. I would never have known that he’d had cancer treatment earlier that day if his [chemo] port hadn’t created a bulge in his tee shirt. He didn’t make it a big deal at all, and was all smiles and grace, so much so that I had to work hard to get him to look a bit tougher to fit the vibe of the ad campaign.  

David is perhaps best known (and most beloved) for being a founding member of Fishtown Beer Runners (FBR), whose ranks and influence have grown exponentially since its inception more than 15 years ago. FBR now boasts numerous chapters both nationally and abroad; on April 27th, 2024 more than 250 friends and family members gathered at Philadelphia Brewing Company to honor and celebrate his life with a palpable mix of love, emotion, and shared stories. Apart from being a founding member of FBR, David was also a Legacy of Hope board member so it was fitting that, prior to the celebration’s kick-off run, Legacy of Hope CEO, Michael Rowe announced a new initiative—building the David N. April Emergency Patient Support Center, which will be a hub of essential services for cancer patients and their families, who are facing multifaceted challenges, including hunger and homelessness because they are too sick to work. Services will include mental health counseling, financial counseling, physical and occupational therapy. “David’s legacy will reverberate and live on for generations, and through the support center we can honor his legacy in perpetuity,” Rowe said. “David, I love you, and we’ll never forget you.”

FBR has been a force of nature in raising funds for the David N. April Emergency Patient Support Center. Funds raised at this year’s PHL24 will also be dedicated to the center.

Fellow Fishtown Beer Runner, Johanna Heskamp-Goode shares that “David was the ultimate community builder. He made friends in everything he did, whether it was running, playing music, or just walking down the street—and he created opportunities for all those miscellaneous friends to become friends, as well. With the Fishtown Beer Runners, David’s biggest priority was being welcoming to everyone,  whether they were veteran runners or had never run a step. He made a point to greet every new runner each week and learn their individual story, and he was always recruiting. He saw the power of running and community and just wanted everyone to have access to that. David’s long fight against cancer gave him tremendous empathy for cancer patients and their families. The David April Emergency Patient Support Center is a fitting way to continue his legacy of supporting those in need.” 

Having experienced cancer firsthand, and being part of the Legacy of Hope team, was incredibly meaningful to David, as it has deepened his appreciation of supporting each other through tough times. In his own words David explained that “Legacy’s volunteers have highlighted the value of coming together to help those who are fighting illness and navigating life’s challenges. Legacy of Hope is much more than delivering groceries to fellow cancer patients, helping to pay the bills, or having a place to stay when having treatment —it really shows how we all need somebody. It was a real honor to be awarded the Legacy of Hope 2022 Medal and meet some of the doctors whose research is literally saving lives and giving patients like me more time to spend with my dear family and friends. Meeting people like Mike Rowe, Greg Garber, and my oncologist, Dr. Kevin Kelly, made me realize that it takes a village to help a cancer patient navigate their journey.”

David’s wife, Carmen shares “My dear husband, David, used to say when cancer got to him he felt ‘it was a family affair.’ I always shared the feeling, and later realized it also became our extended family affair. As I got to meet other cancer patients, I understood that it takes more than a family and friends to keep you going. For us it was Fishtown Beer Runners and Legacy of Hope, and all the good they do for others. Now that David is not with us anymore, my mission is to do anything I can to keep fighting cancer, for patients, families and friends like mine.”  

One thing that was shared by several people who shared memories of David at the celebration of his life was that towards the end of his life he asked if he thought he’d be remembered. If the packed house and the abundance of love at Philadelphia Brewery wasn’t testament enough to the huge impact of David’s well-lived life, the creation of the David N. April Emergency Patient Support Center will ensure that his memory is honored through the critically important work to which he was so dedicated.

Donate to the David N. April Emergency Patient Support Center fund 

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Dr. Claudia Capparelli, PhD

Affiliations: Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Education: PhD, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy – 2011

Focus & Impact:  Focus on the role of the SOX10 transcription factor with regard to tumor cell heterogeneity and plasticity across multiple genotypes in melanoma. Investigating how SOX10 plasticity/heterogeneity affects the response to MEKi and anti-ErbB3 combinations in WT BRAF melanoma patients. 

Publications: Publications Link

Honors & Awards:

  • Legacy of Hope Merit Award

  • Outrun the Sun Melanoma Research Scholar Award

  • Unical Fellowship Visiting Scholar

  • International Pigment Cell Conference Travel Award

  • Best Poster Presentation, Ninth Annual Jefferson Post-doctoral Research

  • INPDAP Fellowship for Student Merit 

  • University of Calabria Fellowships for Student Merit 

Dr. Qing Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

Affiliations: The Wistar Institute, The Chen Laboratory, University of Maryland

Education: PhD,Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, State University of New York at Buffalo (Dean’s Award for outstanding dissertation) – 2006

Focus & Impact:  Focus is on the molecular mechanisms of brain metastasis originating from primary tumors like breast cancer, and the interplay between cancer cells and the stromal cells that populate the brain microenvironment. 

Publications: Publications Link

Honors & Awards​:

  • Legacy of Hope Merit Award

  • Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis Foundation for Health and Policy Award

  • Susan G. Komen, CCR Basic/Translational and Clinical application

  • The V Foundation for Cancer Research Award

  • Dissertation Research Award, Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation 

Nia Andrews

Bio Coming Soon

Rebecca Blinn

Bio Coming Soon

Carol Sollenberger

Bio Coming Soon

Maree Lavo

Bio Coming Soon

Bryan Lathrop

Bio Coming Soon

Kimberly S. Reed

An award winning international speaker, author, corporate trainer and diversity, equality and inclusion executive, nationally recognized thought leader, expert, strategist and advisor to some of the world’s most influential organizations in global professional services, health care, financial services, consumer products and pharmaceutical industries.

Kimberly is a seasoned leader in transforming organizations into high-performing enterprises and challenging leaders to live without limits, with more than 20 years of HR, talent acquisition, and diversity & inclusion experience; successfully turning around troubled diversity practices by designing, building, leading, and shaping high-performing cultures at global organizations with robust strategies, global employee development programs and enterprise-wide initiatives that have increased revenue growth and organizational brand eminence.

Michele Redrow

Michele is a Director on the Legacy of Hope board and also serves on the Executive Committee.

mary chicorelli

Professional:  Mary is a certified city planner for Philadelphia, a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association as well as the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Pro Bono Honor Roll First Judicial District of Philadelphia.

Bio: Mary’s insight into the legal world is invaluable to Legacy of Hope, both in keeping our daily operations moving fluidly as well as making connections for our patients and their families when needed.

“Michael reached out to me about 2 years ago through mutual friends. We worked together to help a woman with stage 4 cancer get her electricity turned back on after it was shut off during the winter. I’ve been 100% supportive of Mike’s vision since then.”

joseph ruggieri, jr

Education: Bachelor’s of Science from West Chester University in Management and Finance

Bio: As a member of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.’s upper management team, Joseph brings a wealth of knowledge regarding finances, management, team-building and planning to the Legacy of Hope board. Joseph linked up with Michael, our President, and Wells Fargo began supporting Legacy of Hope annually.

“My father passed away from what started as Colon Cancer in 2015. Cancer is horrible and if there is something I can do to help others impacted I would want to be a part of it.”

David April

David is the founder of the Fishtown Beer Runners, an organization with chapters all over the world based here in Philadelphia.

dr. kevin kelly

Dr. Kevin Kelly leads Legacy of Hope’s Scientific Review Board to seek out and support the most promising cancer research in Philadelphia using a merit-based system.  He is Jefferson’s Director of Solid Tumor Oncology.

greg garber

Greg Garber is the director of Oncology Support Services at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

Gina Mancuso

Gina’s experience as the very successful co-owner of CoreFitness, LLC coupled with her expertise in planning special events makes her the perfect Vice President for Legacy of Hope. With energy, passion, and drive that makes her seem superhuman, Gina’s connection to our mission is a personal one.

“Both my father and my dear childhood friend were diagnosed with cancer within 3 months of one another. They were surrounded and supported by friends and family throughout their battle and until their passing. No one should suffer through a diagnosis alone and, without Legacy of Hope, some people would do just that.”

Michael Rowe

Awards:

Volatile Media Management’s Mover, Shaker, Changemaker Award – February 2017

Miles Mack Community Services & Leadership Honorable Mention – 2016 TJUH Emergency Department Technician of the Year, Physicians Choice Award – 2015

TJUH Emergency Department Technician of the Year, Physicians Choice Award – 2014

Bio:

With his free time so limited, Michael manages to fuse his work with his other passion: running. Whether it is with the Fishtown Beer Runners, our own Team Relentless Hope, or his closest friends, Michael can often be spotted on the streets of Philadelphia keeping himself fit and active.