As a memorial tribute to an extraordinary woman, Krav Maga Worldwide™ and STOP CANCER have created The Marni Fund, with a shared mission dedicated to developing improved treatments, new diagnostic procedures and the ultimate goal – a cure.

Created in memory of Marni Levine (1969–2006), The Marni Fund is currently supporting innovative Breast Cancer researchers at UCLA, USC and City of Hope NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The Marni Fund was established in 2006 to support young, innovative breast cancer researchers who are identified by the STOP CANCER Research Awards Committee as showing the greatest potential for making major advances in the treatment or early diagnosis of cancer.

Marni Levine, a 4th degree black belt in Krav Maga was the highest-ranking female instructor in the world. She was a wife, a wonderful mother, a valiant and true friend, and in addition to all that she was devoted to Krav Maga and worked tirelessly to make it grow. Krav Maga teaches civilians, soldiers and police officers the tactics system developed by the Israeli military. Marni, one of the founders of this multi-national organization, passed away on August 31, 2006, after a long and courageous fight against cancer.

Since 1992, STOP CANCER has provided support for over 126 researchers and has raised over $46 million since the organization was founded in 1988.

STOP CANCER is proud that 100% of all donations go to cancer research, including The Marni Fund. Because of STOP CANCER’s arrangement with the Comprehensive Cancer Centers, each dollar raised for The Marni Fund will be matched with in-kind support thereby doubling its impact.

The Marni Fund is supported by funds raised through Krav Maga Fights Cancer Annual Seminars and through donations directly to STOP CANCER in Memory of Marni Levine.

At the 2007 STOP CANCER Annual Awards Dinner, three breast cancer researchers representing each of the three NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the Los Angeles Area were awarded STOP CANCER Marni Levine Memorial Breast Cancer Research Awards, which provides annual support valued at $50,000.

Meet the Researchers Supported by The Marni Fund

Melanie Palomares, M.D., M.S. City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center	Sara Hurvitz, M.D. UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center	Christopher Haiman, Sc.D. USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Marni Levine Memorial Breast Cancer Research Award program was launched in 2006, with the initial award going to Dr. Palomares, whose research received continuing funding in 2007.

Dr. Melanie Palomares is Assistant Professor of Population Sciences and Medical Oncology, Co-Director of the Risk Breast Clinic, and Staff Physician of Clinical Cancer Genetics.

Since joining City of Hope in 2003, with the help of the Marni Levine Memorial Research Award, she has used her multidisciplinary training in oncology, epidemiology, and genetics to develop a translational research program for both patients who are at increased risk for cancer (primary cancer prevention and screening) and cancer survivors (secondary cancer prevention and surveillance).

Translational clinical trials in cancer prevention require the development and validation of biomarkers of cancer risk and modification of that risk. She has studied mammographic density as a radiographic marker of breast cancer risk. She is also investigating several molecular markers of breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis, comparing multiple DNA, RNA, proteomic, and whole cell based methodologies. With accurate risk prediction, she will be able to target the most appropriate people for cancer prevention strategies in the future.

Dr. Sara Hurvitz is a Clinical Instructor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology at UCLA who specializes in the treatment of breast cancer. She received her MD from USC and completed residency training at UCLA. She is currently leading the Breast Oncology Program in the Division of Hematology-Oncology there.

Sara is in charge of national and international breast cancer clinical trials that evaluate new promising treatments for both early stage and advanced breast cancer. She states it is clear now that breast cancer is not one disease but many different types, each with a different biological cause and each deserving of a specific therapy. Data obtained from each of these trials will provide critical information that may be used to develop new therapies.

With funds provided by the STOP CANCER Marni Levine Memorial Breast Cancer Award, Dr. Hurvitz is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a novel medication that works by stopping the growth of new blood vessels around tumors in patients with high-risk breast cancer.

Dr. Christopher Haiman, a former STOP CANCER Awardee, is an Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. He received his Doctor of Science degree at Harvard University School of Public Health and completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at USC.

Dr. Haiman is currently working on a program called “Genetic Susceptibility to Breast Cancer.” With funds provided by the STOP CANCER Marni Levine Memorial Breast Cancer Research Award, he is focusing on employing analyses centered on disequilibrium mapping to identify novel susceptibility alleles (one member of a pair of genes that occupy a specific position on a specific chromosome.) He is hoping to define genetic profiles that may be utilized to provide chemopreventive regimens and earlier and more intensive screening strategies.

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