History of ACC Research at TGen

Prior developing Kirsten's Legacy, early funding for TGen's ACC program came from ACC survivor Troy Richards, who was instrumental in establishing TGen's ACC program. Richards has actively raised dollars for ACC research through the Advancing Treatment for Adrenal Cancer (ATAC) fund. This program helped bring ACC research out of the dark ages and into the 21st century.

In May 2005, Richards met with TGen faculty to discuss establishing an ACC research program. Richards also developed a website and co-founded what is now the largest ACC support group on the Web. He often receives calls from patients throughout the world, whom he encourages to participate in clinical trials.

Kirsten's Legacy and the ATAC Fund Join Forces

In late 2010, Gary and Barbara Pasquinelli of Yuma, Arizona, along with Kirsten's husband, Ed Sandstrom, began working with TGen to establish Kirsten's Legacy in memory of Kirsten Sandstrom, loving daughter, wife and mother of three, who had lost her battle with ACC in March of that year.

Richards, the Pasquinelli family and Ed merged efforts and today pursue a cure for ACC through the Kirsten's Legacy program.