Meet Brian McNamara, affectionately known as "Coach Mac," a 44-year-old history teacher and football coach from New Jersey. Over the past 23 years, Brian has dedicated himself to shaping the lives of his students and athletes, leaving a lasting impact both on and off the field. He has served as the defensive coordinator at Brick High School and, more recently, as a coach for the Freehold Township Football team. A devoted husband and father of five—two of whom are currently in college—Brian is admired for his selflessness, unwavering strength, and determination that continues to inspire those around him.
In late 2024, Brian began experiencing what he thought was an intense sinus infection. After further tests, he was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of head and neck cancer. The location of the cancer has brought significant challenges, making it difficult for him to chew and even affecting his vision.
Brian’s treatment regimen is grueling. He undergoes Proton Radiation twice a day, every day, with some days also requiring hours of a chemo cocktail made up of two very strong chemotherapy drugs. Despite these challenges, Brian has continued to face this fight with incredible resilience and a determination to overcome every obstacle in his path.
As part of this journey, Brian and his wife have had to temporarily relocate to the city during the week to be closer to his treatment center. This has added a significant financial strain due to the costs of transportation, including frequent Uber rides to and from his appointments.
To support Brian, the Fightstrong Foundation joined forces with the community and participated in an Orange Theory fundraiser class on Saturday, January 4th. Through the fundraiser, we were able to donate gift cards for Amazon, CVS, ShopRite, Whole Foods, and Uber to help alleviate some of the family’s expenses.
Please consider making a donation directly to Brian and his family by clicking on the link below:
Donate to Brian
Brian, we will continue to pray for you and be by your side every step of the way. We cannot wait to see you come through this stronger than ever. We love you!