Founders & History

In 2007, Eric Galvez started a group on Facebook called “TUMORS SUCK”. Eric quickly found plenty of people that felt the same way about brain tumors. While connecting with the brain tumor community, Eric heard from folks with all types of tumors…everyone agreed, “Tumors Suck!”

One of Eric’s friends, Susie Ghahremani, designed a logo for him to help him express his irreverent attitude towards all tumors. The idea caught fire and soon people were posting pictures of the “TUMORS SUCK” logo in all types of locations. In 2008, Eric and his friends created the website www.mAssKickers.org and began posting interviews and articles for newly diagnosed patients. Shortly after, Dai Tran updated the “Tumors Suck” logo to give Lumpy a little more personality. In 2010, mAss Kickers Foundation (MKF) attained 501c3 federal tax exemption nonprofit status.

Once MKF was started, another of Eric’s friends, Al Chan, talked with him about an idea to “rock a ‘hawk” (aka wear a Mohawk) to promote awareness for brain tumors – Hawktober was born! Don Duchateau put together some early logos for their Hawktober concept (below).

In 2007, after Matt Cotcher’s diagnosis and surgery, he “found” Eric and the MKF site while researching survivorship. In 2011, Matt took the Hawktober concept and ran with it. He enlisted the help of Dustin Hall to create the artwork.

We’re glad you’re here – thank you for your support!

This is the evolution of the Tumors Suck campaign: