StacheStrong has been featured on Believe in Progress, the official podcast of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Foundation. The episode, titled “From Mustache to Mission: How StacheStrong Is Changing Brain Cancer Research,” features Colin Gerner in conversation with host Mitch Stoller, telling the full story of StacheStrong from its deeply personal beginnings to where it stands today.
It is one of the most comprehensive tellings of the StacheStrong story to date, and well worth an hour of your time.
The Story From the Beginning
Colin opens the episode by talking about his brother, GJ. Who he was as a person, what it was like growing up together, and what it meant to watch him face a glioblastoma diagnosis at just 27 years old with the kind of strength that is hard to put into words.
The transcript captures it best. When asked what stays with him, Colin’s answer is simple: “Strength. Because in his mind, as he continued to tackle treatment and wear Optune and go through everything, he was going to be the one that defeated this.”
GJ went back to work during treatment. He kept running. A year into his diagnosis, he ran a 24-minute 5K. He focused on making sure the people around him were okay. That was GJ.
“Don’t treat me differently. I’m still the same guy.”
That spirit is what StacheStrong is built on.
Eight Years of Impact
The episode covers the full arc of StacheStrong’s growth, from Colin processing his brother’s illness and deciding to do something about it, to building a national nonprofit with no prior experience, to where the organisation stands eight years in.
Today, StacheStrong has funded more than $7 million in glioblastoma research across 65+ grants at 40+ institutions. Colin discusses the collaborative funding model that makes this possible, partnering with organisations like the AACR and the V Foundation to co-fund high-quality research grants and effectively double the impact of every dollar raised.
The episode also covers the 2026 Boston Marathon campaign, where Colin and three teammates raised more than $200,000 toward a five-year, $1 million grant to accelerate glioblastoma research at Massachusetts General Hospital. Plus, StacheStrong has 50 charity bibs available for the 2026 New York City Marathon, continuing to grow the marathon community that has become central to the organisation’s mission.
More Than a Foundation
Some of the most powerful moments in the episode go beyond the numbers. Colin reflects on what it really means when people say “StacheStrong is a lifestyle,” why he rejects the word “caregiver,” what it will feel like to cross a marathon finish line for the first time without GJ by his side, and what GJ would think about everything that has been built in his name.
There is also a detail that long-time supporters will love: the hidden GJ in the StacheStrong logo.
Listen Now
Believe in Progress is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. This is an episode that captures everything StacheStrong stands for, and one worth sharing widely.
Listen on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4rLQyB5 Listen on Spotify: sptfy.in/o700 Watch on YouTube: AACR.org/BelieveInProgress
And if Colin’s story has moved you to get involved, visit stachestrong.org to donate or join Team StacheStrong for an upcoming marathon.