COLLEGE STATION, Texas April 15, 2026— When the Texas A&M Aggies take the field against Auburn on Friday, May 1, they will be playing for more than a win. The game at Blue Bell Park will serve as the official launch of the Mark Massey Legacy Foundation and the debut of the “Strikeout DMG” campaign – a mission to turn every strikeout into a catalyst for a cure for pediatric brain cancer.
The foundation was established by Aggie alumni Ali (’06) and Bryan (’02) Massey in honor of their son, Mark. A vibrant 10-year-old and devoted Aggie fan, Mark was diagnosed in January 2024 with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), a terminal and inoperable brain cancer with a zero percent survival rate. He fought with "quiet fearlessness" for 10 months before passing away just two weeks shy of his 11th birthday.
“In Mark’s final hours, we promised him his life would help other children,” said Bryan Massey. “By partnering with Texas A&M Baseball, we are turning our grief into action to ensure no other parent has to hear there is no hope for their child.”
May is National Brain Cancer Awareness Month, a critical time to highlight that even though brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children, pediatric research receives less than four percent of federal cancer funding. DMG is particularly aggressive, typically striking healthy children between the ages of 5 and 10.
The "Strikeout DMG" campaign is made possible through a major sponsorship by Aggieland Credit Union, the Official Credit Union of Texas A&M Athletics. As a deeply rooted partner of the university, the credit union is leveraging its relationship with the Aggie network to help the foundation reach its 2026 fundraising goal of $100,000.
The campaign invites the 12th Man to join "Mark's Army" through several game-day activities:
- "Strikeout DMG" at the Ballpark: Aggie fans are encouraged to wear official “Mark’s Army: Strike Out DMG” T-shirts, sponsored by Aggieland Credit Union.
- Bubbles for Mark: A tribute to Mark’s joyful spirit during the game.
- The First pitch will be thrown by current Texas A&M student, Will Keller, who lost his sister, Mary Katherine to DIPG in 2018.
- The Mark Massey Legacy Foundation is a proud research partner with ChadTough Defeat DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) Foundation.
“Mark always cared about others first,” said Ali Massey. “We are asking fellow Aggies and the community to stand with us and prove that through research, we can make DMG a treatable disease.”
Pictures of Mark Massey before and after his DMG diagnosis, along with the Massey Foundation assets, and other campaign press materials can be downloaded here.
For more information, to purchase Strikeout DMG gear, or to donate, visit https://markslegacy.org/event/strike-out-dmg
About the Mark Massey Legacy Foundation
The Mark Massey Legacy Foundation is a College Station-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2025 and dedicated to funding medical research to find a cure for Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG).
Founded by Ali (’06) and Bryan (’02) Massey, and family friend Nichole Rodriguez, the foundation honors the Massey’s son Mark, by raising awareness and providing hope to families facing the most devastating form of pediatric brain cancer.
About DMG/DIPG
Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) is a high-grade, fast-growing brain tumor. Because it infiltrates the brainstem and midline, it is currently inoperable and has a zero percent survival rate. Research into genetic mutations represents the best hope for a future breakthrough.
