The 2026 Basket Raffle has ended.
A huge thank you to our Brain Buddies, Donors and Volunteers! 
Our 2026 Basket Raffle was a big success! Congrats to all of the basket winners and we hope that you treasure the stories and treats in your baskets! The Basket Raffle might be over for the year but there is plenty of fun still happening! Follow us on social to see what The Gray Matters Foundation is up to and check back for more details on our 2027 fundraising event!
Sharing Stories Through Baskets
About the Basket Raffle
Our Basket Raffle is the heart of our event.
Each basket represents a brain cancer patient — a Brain Buddie — and tells their story in a simple, meaningful way. These baskets aren’t just collections of items; they represent people. A personality. A passion. A life beyond a diagnosis. Every basket reflects something special — a favorite hobby, a cherished memory, or a simple joy — helping others see who someone is beyond brain tumors and cancer. Each basket includes a short story and a photo and is raffled off during the event.
Every basket matters.
Every basket tells a story.
Every basket is filled with love.
Why We Ask for Stories and Photos
The stories and photos are shared with researchers.
They show why a cure is needed.
They give our community a voice.
They remind researchers that the work they do is about real people and real families.
For our families, these stories say: our loved ones matter. Their names, faces, and lives are not forgotten.
The basket may be fun to win — but the story is what stays with you. When you take home a basket with a story, you take home the memory of someone whose life was touched by something terrible.
That is why this raffle matters.
Other Ways to Help
Donate non-basket items that can be raffled or added to baskets
Volunteer on the day of the event or assist with setup
Reach out to Lanette for more ideas and opportunities to help!
Share YOUR Story
Tell Us Your Story
Your basket is a chance to share a piece of someone’s life.
Don’t overthink it — a basket doesn’t need to tell everything. Choosing one theme is enough to give others a glimpse into who your special person is and what makes them them.
Think about:
- A favorite hobby or activity (cooking, gardening, hiking, crafting)
- A favorite thing (donuts, coffee, books, movies, sports)
- A tradition or memory you shared together
A Few Simple Examples:
Love to cook? Create a cooking basket.
Grandma was known for her donuts? Fill a basket with donut themed items and treats.
Taco nights, game nights, movie nights — all make wonderful themes.
No two baskets are the same, because no two stories are the same.
More Than a Diagnosis
Most important: make your basket personal to the person it represents.
Brain cancer may be part of the story — but it is not the whole story. You or your loved one had hobbies, joys, passions, hopes, and a full life before a brain tumor entered the picture.
This is your chance to share the before.
To share the heart.
To remind everyone that each Brain Buddie is more than a diagnosis.
