Who We Are

Liza’s Story & The Liza and Edie Burke Education Fund

Eliza (Liza) Grace Burke arrived right on schedule on July 10, 2001 and wasted no time living life to the fullest. Liza was the youngest of ten children born in her neighborhood in one calendar year and, although she was the smallest, she was the fiercest and the undisputed leader of the pack. Liza cherished her older siblings, Jack and Edie. As her sister’s abilities declined from the effects of MPS1, Liza proudly assumed the role of little “big sister” until Edie’s death when Liza was only six.

Liza's childhood bestie offered,

"I have never seen a prouder Liza than when she would introduce a friend, neighbor, or stranger to her sister, Edie. I am one of many who experienced the comfort and joy of having Liza as a protector, defender, and promoter. There is nothing Liza loved more than celebrating, and she took such pride in uplifting and supporting her people. It’s a rare person who can balance fierce protection with tenderness and a light, joyful spirit. Liza always called Edie her angel, and it doesn’t surprise me that Liza’s life would be influenced by the magic of an angel in the form of a sibling."

Liza was open to wonder and magic, and was frequently found resting upside-down with her head on the family sofa and her feet in the air. She was steadfast in her love for family and friends (offering encouragement or a tiny shoulder to cry on), much like her abundant respect and care for animals (fostering and socializing limitless kittens) as well as the planet (recycle and stop wasting the AC, people!). During high school, Liza and her mother spent a semester in Mexico where Liza taught English after school to local elementary school children. During those five months, Liza honed her Spanish and guitar skills, and more importantly she discovered the fullness deep within herself.

Liza lived large, like every day could be her last. She was not only at ease in nature, she was intrepid—whether watching sunsets from a mountain top tent, swimming solo across any body of water, or surfing in Central America. As Liza matured, she accomplished more in 21 years than many people do in a lifetime. She spoke two languages, played guitar, traveled the world, went skydiving, hiked across a glacier, joyfully sang and danced — always without fear of judgement. When she decided to go to the University of Georgia, she did so because others told her they LOVED it, not because of where its education might take her. It was the experience that mattered to Liza. She had an innate way of bringing people together, making everyone feel loved, and sharing her contagious laugh with those she met.

On her final day of Spring Break her senior year in Cabo, Liza fell ill, and ten days later she was diagnosed with an aggressive tumor on her brain stem. Modern medicine could not keep up with the tumor and on April 28th, Liza passed from her brother's hands into those of her sister in the next realm.

Speaking at Liza's service, her best friend said,

"In her short but beautiful life, Liza did a whole lot of living.... While studying abroad in Barcelona last spring, her adventurous spirit led her on many solo outings. Sometimes she’d call as she enjoyed some gelato and walked around. Her pursuit of all things was unbounded. She wasn’t confined to a singular hobby or interest. She pursued experiences of all kinds. Live music, art, nature, language, culture, dancing and singing. It was fun that she loved. She found love inside herself long before most young people do. She was on this Earth to devour fun in all forms, spread her love, and serve as an example of life done well. Living like Liza is a choice that she made every day. Seeking out new experiences, relationships, and opportunities even if it meant doing it alone.

Because of Liza, I hope you dare to love more intensely and share your voice more urgently than ever. To live like Liza means to dance when everyone’s looking, to speak your mind no matter the audience, to implement positivity in the wake of difficulty, to choose your own company sometimes, and to never let fear or doubt stand in the way of a new experience."

The Liza and Edie Burke Education Fund strives to help other young people live their lives to the fullest. The Fund currently provides college tuition and expenses for two students from the town in Mexico where Liza taught. Additionally, the Fund has partnered with the University of Georgia to establish and fund the Liza Burke Community Spirit Award. This endowment is awarded to individuals or groups who profoundly and positively impact their peers, campus, or community through their dedication, character, and willingness to lead by example.

Knox’s Story & The Knox Martin Foundation

Our namesake, Knox Martin, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in September 2017. Despite surgeries, setbacks, radiation, and chemotherapy, Knox continued to set goals and live life to the fullest. He traveled, worked, studied, and was a 2020 graduate of the University of Georgia. Our foundation began less than four months after Knox passed away from an aggressive brain tumor called a Glioblastoma (GBM) in December, 2020. He was 24 years old.

Despite being first identified in scientific research in the 1920s, there are only four FDA-approved drugs to treat Glioblastoma. Four. In 100 years! For Glioblastoma, the five-year relative survival rate is only 7.2%, and the median survival is only 8 months.

These devastating statistics attest to the underfunded and under-researched nature of brain cancer treatments – particularly treatments for Glioblastoma. Few research studies are conducted in aggressive brain cancers because the outcomes are so poor; yet the outcomes remain poor because so few research studies exist. We want to end this infinite loop.

Our mission is to fund innovative brain cancer research, particularly in aggressive brain cancers. Our vision is a world where a Glioblastoma diagnosis is widely treatable and curable. We engage with community partners and renowned research institutions to fund life-saving treatments, giving patients like Knox a longer life expectancy.

Since our inception in March of 2021, KMF has raised over $600,000 from over 1,200 first-time and repeat donors spanning from families and friends across the country, ranging in age from 18 to 85. We’ve garnered invitations onto Duke University's Brain Tumor Center Board of Advisors and seats at the 2022 Society for Neuro-Oncology annual conference. We’ve produced two major annual fundraising events, welcoming nearly 300 guests on both occasions. We’re thrilled to continue to build upon this upward trajectory and exponential growth.

Today, we partner with the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University. The Duke Brain Tumor Center directly uses our funding to study new, innovative therapies in patients with Glioblastoma – the most deadly and aggressive type of brain cancer. Because of the generosity of our donors, the top research minds in the world are focusing their energy and attention on eradicating this devastating disease.

We are honored to serve alongside and partner with you, our beloved friends, donors, and sponsors to make good on the promise made to Knox the day he passed: we will never stop fighting to end brain cancer and we will spend the rest of our lives funding innovative brain cancer research so someone else’s Knox can have a shot at a longer life.