Rosie O'Donnell and Michelle Rounds Join Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

Rosie O'Donnell and Fiancée Michelle Rounds are teaming up with the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation (DTRF) to help fundraising efforts towards research for a cure. The couple hopes to raise awareness of the rare disease after Rounds was diagnosed with desmoid tumors this past summer.

Rosie and Michelle will kick off their efforts by participating in the annual DTRF Running for Answers 5K, held in Philadelphia on October 21, 2012. (See Michelle's fundraising page at:  http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/michellerounds/running-for-answers). The couple plans to match all donations made to Michelle's fundraising page.

"This is a devastating rare disease, and rare diseases get few, if any, research dollars from traditional sources," says O'Donnell. "We want to help create and support a groundswell of grassroots fundraising for DTRF that will move us toward a cure."  Michelle, still recovering from a major surgery in June to remove a life-threatening abdominal desmoid tumor, agrees. "I don't want anyone to have to go through what I've experienced.  Donations to DTRF are going to fund the research so desperately needed to find reliable treatments and hopefully, a cure." 

O'Donnell joined The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation Board of Directors and Rounds has taken the position of Fundraising Chair for DTRF.   

The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation, founded in 2005, funds significant desmoid tumor research projects at the world's top cancer research institutions.  DTRF is the only organization in the country dedicated to funding research for a cure. With a scientific advisory board of the world's most renowned desmoid tumor experts, DTRF is accelerating scientific collaboration and cutting-edge research toward a cure.  For more information on desmoid tumors and research,  please visit www.dtrf.org.