SCOLAMIERO TO RECEIVE TIM GULLIKSON SPIRIT AWARD FROM TOM GULLIKSON AT CINCINNATI EVENT

Brain-Tumor Survivor Built World’s First Internet Network for Patients

CINCINNATI (August 9, 2000) Brain-tumor survivor Samantha Jane Scolamiero, who created the world’s first and largest on-line network to assist brain-tumor patients and their families, will receive the second annual Tim Gullikson Spirit Award on Saturday at the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati tournament.

Tim Gullikson, who won the 1983 Cincinnati doubles championship and coached Pete Sampras to the No. 1 world ranking, co-founded the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation to assist brain-tumor patients and their families before he died from brain tumors in 1996. This year marks the Foundation’s fifth anniversary.

Scolamiero, 30, of Somerville, Mass., will receive the award from Foundation chairman Tom Gullikson before Saturday evening’s semifinal match. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1990, Scolamiero found that nearby support groups and information were scarce for most brain-tumor patients. In response, she built BRAINTMR, a free 24-hour on-line support group and information exchange used by thousands of brain-tumor patients, their families and medical professionals. She continues to volunteer countless hours in helping the brain-tumor community.

“Samantha Jane epitomizes Timmy's positive attitude and fighting spirit,” said Tom Gullikson. “When faced with a life-changing medical problem, instead of dwelling on her fate, she used her determination and cyber skills to devote her life to providing a comfortable, lively and educational place for people to find compassion, support and information. We are proud to name her the recipient of the 2000 Tim Gullikson Spirit Award.”

In 1997, Scolamiero founded The Healing Exchange BRAIN TRUST, a non-profit organization which oversees BRAINTMR and builds specialized on-line support groups to meet individuals’ distinct needs. Ideally, she will create groups for each of the more than 50 types of brain tumors. Scolamiero, a recent advisory board appointee to the National Institutes of Health, became a guest faculty member at Harvard University Medical School in 1995, teaching cybermedicine.

“I am honored to know I will be receiving an award in the name of Tim Gullikson,” said Scolamiero. “He used his positive energy and spirit to create a foundation that significantly helps brain-tumor patients and their families.”

The Tim Gullikson Spirit Award is given annually by the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation to a brain-tumor patient, caregiver, volunteer, corporation or benefactor who has embraced the fighting spirit and positive attitude that Tim Gullikson used to battle and live with brain tumors and in doing so gives hope to others. The award carries a $5,000 stipend, which Scolamiero will use to add resources to The Healing Exchange BRAIN TRUST (www.braintrust.org).

“It is my love and privilege to serve the brain-tumor community,” said Scolamiero. “With Tim’s continued spirit and this generous assistance from the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, I am dedicated to building communications among brain-tumor patients, their loved ones and health-care professionals. ”

Tim and Tom Gullikson – identical twins who won 10 doubles championships together on pro tennis tour – started the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation five years ago to fund care and support for brain-tumor patients and their families. Through donations and high-profile fund-raising activities, the Foundation endows programs as diverse as camp stays for children, college scholarships and The Brain Tumor Family Support Center at Duke – A Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation Program.

Scolamiero created BRAINTMR in 1993 at MIT, where she worked in the campus’ libraries. It was Scolamiero’s dream to attend MIT, but these plans were derailed when she was forced to leave studies at Florida’s New College after mysteriously experiencing symptoms of traumatic brain injury, including vision problems, reading difficulty and an acute sensitivity to light and noise, plus a toothache that lasted for months. A dentist at MIT sent her for tests which revealed an epidermoid cyst, a benign brain tumor in the brain-stem area. To remove it, Scolamiero underwent a 15-hour operation at Massachusetts General Hospital.

After the operation, Scolamiero still suffered from many of her symptoms, but was refused admission into a Boston support group near her home because her tumor was not malignant. The closest support group was a 45-minute drive from her home, but Scolamiero’s fatigue made it difficult for her to drive. In response, she created BRAINTMR, where patients can share information and offer support and advice for treatment and living. “I doubt that what I say will come close to expressing the gratitude which I feel,” one BRAINTMR subscriber wrote. “My sister would be dead today if it had not been for this support group.”

Says Scolamiero, “I wanted to create a place on the ’net where people could interact and find a healing exchange of information and support. Information can bring both comfort and power. The on-line support groups can also reduce the isolation that brain tumors bring to individuals.”

Tim Gullikson lost his battle with brain tumors on May 3, 1996. At the time, he was Pete Sampras’ coach. Tom Gullikson is Director of Coaching of USA Tennis, where he oversees the hiring, development and training of tennis coaches and talent at all levels as part of the U.S. Tennis Association’s program for growth of the game in the U.S. From 1994 to 1999, Tom Gullikson was captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, leading the men’s international tennis team to the Davis Cup championship in 1995.

For more information: 1-888-GULLIKSON