In January of 2020 our world was turned upside down. What we thought was just a simple bruise/injury from riding his dirt bike ended up being something far more frightening - Gavin was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (right tibia), which quickly metastasized to his lungs. Gavin braved numerous chemo treatments (both IV and oral), limb spare surgery, sternotomy with bilateral lung resections (leaving Gavin with a total of 1 and 1/3 lung), and attempted a clinical trial in order to beat this horrible cancer. Through it all Gavin remained positive, fierce, kind, and never missed an opportunity to make people laugh - he truly was a gift on this earth for 19 years.
With knowing there has not been new standard treatment developments in 40 years, and only 4% of funding goes to pediatric cancer as a whole, Gavin said many times "we have to find a better way....we have to find a way to fix this." And that is exactly what we are committed to doing - honoring Gavin and continuing his fight to beat Osteosarcoma.
"It may seem like you can’t win, but you cannot give up.” - Gavin McClain
FACTOR brings together the leading researchers, clinicians, surgeons, together with patient families and OsteoWarriors to Make It Better for those battling this disease.
Each year a grant of $100,000 is awarded to a project that will focus on moving research forward for osteosarcoma patients.
Browse our extensive list of osteosarcoma resources from MIB Agents and our partner organizations.
OsteoBites is a weekly webinar and podcast where we invite Osteosarcoma Experts and OsteoWarriors to share their research, hope, and innovation.
Agent GAMERS game with their fellow OsteoWarriors and OsteoSiblings.
Ambassador Agents are certified peer visitors who provide hope, understanding, and resources.
OsteoWarriors receive monthly letters of hope and cheer from MIB Agent Writers around the world.
When an OsteoWarrior transitions to hospice care, MIB Agents provides an experience or an item of comfort and entertainment.
The OsteoWarriors HQ (headquarters) brings kids and young adults who have a connection to osteosarcoma together and It. Is. Awesome!
A world with less toxic, more effective treatments and a cure for osteosarcoma.
We are devoted to creating and instilling hope with and for our inclusive and collaborative osteosarcoma community. We do this through mutual trust, transparency and compassion.
