Published in Athens Exchange on 11/10/2007

University of Georgia graduate Chad Leathers and his brother Ben, a senior at UGA, have teamed up to help their younger brother Drew in his fight against a rare nerve disease.

The "Tumornators," a fundraising group formed by the brothers that raises money for the Children's Tumor Foundation, will hold its first big event, "Rock-4-Research," the night before the Georgia-Georgia Tech game at Peachtree Tavern in Atlanta.

The event will start at 6 p.m. and will include a silent auction and a meet and greet with Atlanta Braves right-fielder Jeff Franceour and former All American Bulldog, Matt Stinchcomb, who also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders. Concert performances will include the Wesley Cook Band and Matt Moore. Brothers Ben and Drew will also perform.

Published in the Red and Black 11/20/2007

In fifth grade, Drew Leathers had a tumor removed from his arm.

His brother Ben Leathers said the doctors didn't think the tumor was abnormal at the time. Then, in eighth grade, he had two more removed.

To date, Drew, who is now a sophomore at Georgia College and State University, has had 13 surgeries and 16 tumors reduced or removed, according to the Tumornators' Web site.

The Tumornators was started by Ben and Chad Leathers, Drew's older brothers, to raise funds for and awareness of Neurofibromatosis and Schwannomatosis research.

In high school, Drew was diagnosed with Schwannomatosis, a rare genetic disease in the Neurofibromatosis family that causes tumors to grow on nerves.

Click below to check out the Tumornators and Jeff Francoeur's involvement!
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Published in Athens Exchange 4/13/2008

A local non-profit organization is hosting a foam party to benefit the Children's Tumor Foundation at Level 131 on April 17, 2008.

The Tumornators Fund in the Foam Party will feature DJ Blaze and a raffle for a signed Herschel Walker jersey. They have teamed up with Moe's, Chick-fil-A, Hideous Liquors, the Off Campus Bookstore and Radtke Sports.

The foam will drop at midnight and admission is $10 before 12 a.m. After midnight the prices at the door will rise.

The Tumornators was started in February 2007 by brothers Chad and Ben Leathers after seeing their younger brother, Drew, battle schwannomatosis since age 10.

(ATHENS, Ga.) Aug. 12, 2008 -- The Tumornators cordially invite you to the biggest back to school bash at UGA! The rockin' concert, presented by Pigpen Studios of Athens, will be held at Terrapin Brewery on Saturday August 23, 2008 and features Blue Flashing Light, PictureMeFree, Bain Mattox, and Shot from Guns. Doors open at 5:00 pm. All ages are invited to attend.

Admission will cost $10 at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Children's Tumor Foundation. This organization funds research of neurofibromatosis commonly referred to as NF, an excruciatingly painful and debilitating disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue.

Support for the Tumornators draws largely from the UGA community. To date, they have raised close to $130,000 from benefit concerts, dinners and parties in the Atlanta metro area focusing on Athens.

The Tumornators' founding brothers, Chad and Ben Leathers, have watched their younger brother, Drew, battle schwannomatosis, a rare form of NF, since age 10. They hope that through their support of the Children's Tumor Foundation, the not-for-profit organization will motivate researchers and pharmaceutical companies to find treatment and ultimately a cure for NF. For more info please visit www.Tumornators.com