A Life Remembered Through Philanthropy

From riding in Cycle for Survival to making an estate gift, the Milacci family is honoring their loved one’s memory by championing advances in cancer research and patient care. 

Shortly after losing her husband Robert “Robb” Milacci to glioblastoma — a highly aggressive form of brain cancer — Jennifer Milacci promised herself and their two young children that she would turn this profound loss into something positive. Sixteen years later, that promise has taken shape in numerous forms of generous support for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).

“From the moment of Robb’s diagnosis to his passing, only five months went by. Our kids were just 4 and 1 years old, and balancing their needs while caring for Robb felt overwhelming at times. It was a brief and incredibly difficult time,” Jennifer explains. “But during those months, Robb received wonderful care at MSK. The compassion, dedication, and expertise of the doctors, nurses, and staff were nothing short of extraordinary. We also felt very strongly about the research taking place. It continues to give us real hope. Supporting MSK feels like a meaningful way to remember Robb and help others faced with similar circumstances in the future.” 

Turning grief into action

In 2010, a year after Robb died, Jennifer honored his memory by running in the TCS New York City Marathon with Fred’s Team, MSK’s official running program that raises funds for lifesaving cancer research. Motivated by that experience, she formed TeamRobb the following year through Cycle for Survival, the official rare cancer fundraising program of MSK. At her first ride, surrounded by family and friends, Jennifer was immediately struck by the energy and enthusiasm of everyone in the room.

“I remember being amazed by how inspiring it was,” she recalls. “It wasn’t sad like I thought it would be and, from then on, we were hooked.”

Since then, Jennifer and TeamRobb have participated in Cycle for Survival every year, riding in New York, Boston, and San Francisco — and in some years, all three cities. Robb’s brother, Gregg, has been a regular participant, and his father, Bob, and stepmother, Annette, even brought the movement to their hometown of Pittsburgh. 

One of those memories from their first ride still brings a smile. Robb had been a member of a fraternity during his time at Carnegie Mellon University, so Bob and Annette reached out to his chapter for support. About a dozen fraternity brothers showed up to participate — but when they arrived, a few of them were wearing sandals.

“We had to find tennis shoes for some of them,” Bob says with a laugh. “But the amazing thing was, none of these guys knew Robb. They just knew he was their fraternity brother — and they showed up for him.”

Although Bob and Annette no longer host rides in Pittsburgh, they remain very supportive of Jennifer’s efforts. Jennifer has since remarried, and her husband, Marc Scher, has fully embraced Cycle for Survival and TeamRobb. Their blended family has become an integral part of the cause. Jennifer and Robb’s children, Laurel and Robert, are now old enough to ride, and Marc’s children have participated and been supportive as well.

“I’ve always felt that you can get through whatever life throws at you. Even the hardest things do pass,” Jennifer says. “Thanks to my family and support systems, I’ve made it to the other side. Cycle for Survival has been a part of that journey. It has been a powerful outlet for our family to make something positive from what we went through. I’ve even had the opportunity to share our story onstage at a few events — and I hope it’s offered some comfort and hope to others. Every year, it’s amazing to hear about the innovations that have come from the funds we’ve helped raise.” 

Holding on to hope for a cure

Since its founding in 2007, Cycle for Survival has raised more than $400 million to advance rare cancer research at MSK, including critical work in brain cancer. Although primary brain tumors are relatively rare, with just over 25,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States, they remain among the most challenging to treat. Glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form, is still incurable.

Among the many MSK researchers supported by Cycle for Survival is Robb’s physician, Ingo Mellinghoff, MD, Chair of the Department of Neurology and Evnin Family Chair in Neuro-Oncology. Dr. Mellinghoff’s work focuses on understanding how specific genetic alterations drive the growth of brain tumors, with the goal of developing targeted therapies to treat them more effectively. In 2023, his research led to a major breakthrough: the first FDA-approved treatment in over two decades for a type of brain cancer known as low-grade glioma. At the same time, Dr. Mellinghoff and his MSK colleagues continue their longstanding efforts to better understand and discover new treatments for glioblastoma.

“Our hope is that someday there will be a cure for glioblastoma,” Bob says. “There have been some advances that have helped a few people, but there is still no cure. Some have experienced miracles, but unfortunately, Robb wasn’t one of them. We want a future where no one has to wait or hope for a miracle — because a cure is available as soon as they get that diagnosis.” 

A gift that lives on

To carry forward their shared vision of finding a cure, both couples — Bob and Annette and Jennifer and Marc — have made the meaningful decision to include MSK in their estate plans.  

This commitment ensures their support will continue well into the future, providing vital resources that advance MSK’s mission of ending cancer for life and give hope to patients and families for generations to come.

“Robb was a wonderful husband, a loving father, and one of the best people you could ever meet. He is missed every day by so many,” Jennifer says. “I’m honored to carry on his memory through our giving, with the hope that it helps accelerate progress toward better treatments and cures.”

Bob doesn’t see a time that their dedication to MSK will change. It’s become part of their lives.

“From the day we walked into MSK to the day we left, Robb just got remarkable care and love from everybody,” he says. “Whether it was his physician, a radiologist, the nurses, or the night shift cleaners, you could just feel the compassion for not only Robb, but for the other patients as well. We still feel it today.”