#TeamMunira

Fight for a Cure

Walk & Run supporting Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation and Rare Cancer Research

Seymour Lieberman Trail at Memorial Park

April 19, 2025 at 8AM

Get Involved

Join Our Movement

Volunteer

From event setup to cheering on participants, every role makes a difference in supporting Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma research.

Walk With Us

Join us in honor of Munira and all those affected by Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Every step brings us closer to better treatments and a future with hope.

Donate

Your donation directly supports research for Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, bringing hope to families facing this rare and aggressive disease.

“With life as short as a half-taken breath, don’t plant anything but love” -Rumi

About Munira

Relentless Strength, Unwavering Spirit

Munira Wirani was a woman of incredible strength, resilience, and compassion. A midwife by profession, she devoted her life to helping others, delivering over 10,000 babies and bringing countless moments of joy to families. Her passion for both her work and an active, healthy lifestyle were unmatched. Munira’s journey began at Emory University, where she cultivated a deep love for religion, travel, and science. Her adventures took her around the world, including a transformative study abroad experience in Morocco + Turkey and many other exciting travels across Europe, Greece, & North America. 

The Midwife Era: Catching Babies. Changing Lives.

Alongside her love for exploration, Munira pursued her passion for healthcare, earning a dual degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife. Her professional achievements were nothing short of extraordinary, but it was her unyielding spirit and ability to connect with others that truly defined her.

As a Certified Nurse Midwife, Munira specialized in providing compassionate, evidence-based care to women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. She was deeply invested in maternal health, advocating for safe, empowering birth experiences and holistic well-being. Munira’s legacy continues to inspire those who knew her, reminding us of the power of education, perseverance, and a heart dedicated to service.

In addition to her dedication to healthcare, Munira had a love for food and cooking! She was the ultimate foodie, always experimenting in the kitchen and perfecting dishes with a special flair. As a self-proclaimed “Sous Chef,” her culinary creations were the stuff of legend. If you were lucky enough to taste her famous homemade chocolate chip banana bread, baked apple pie, or fresh salads, you knew you’d experienced something special.

The Cancer Era: Rare Cancer Supporter​

In 2018, Munira was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) in the trachea, a rare and aggressive cancer that changed her life forever. Despite her diagnosis, she continued to approach life with the same optimism, tenacity, and love for her family and community that had always defined her. Over the years, Munira bravely fought & overcame multiple rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and when all other options were exhausted, she enrolled in clinical research trials in a relentless effort to be able to spend a little more time with her loved ones. She even paved the way for other ACC patients to qualify for a specific drug, despite it not being initially targeted for her type of cancer.

During her cancer journey, Munira experienced firsthand many of the challenges faced by rare cancer patients and the need for dedicated research funding. After fighting for nearly 6 years, Munira passed away on April 17, 2024 surrounded by her family and close loved ones. The “Move for Munira” Walk & Run honors her memory, by raising awareness for these rare types of cancers and funds for ACC cancer research. We are committed to continuing Munira’s legacy of helping others, just as she did every day throughout her life.

Fight For A Cure

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

What is ACC?

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) is a rare type of cancer that affects your glandular tissues. It commonly forms in your salivary glands. But it can also occur in other parts of your body, like your tear or sweat glands. While ACC is slow-growing with a high five-year survival rate, it often comes back — sometimes after many years.

How Rare is ACC?

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) is rare. It makes up about 1% of all head and neck cancers and affects 4.5 out of every 100,000 people in the general population. In the United States, about 1,200 people receive a diagnosis every year. Most people with ACC are between the ages of 40 and 60. The condition is slightly more common in females.

Drive Rare Cancer Research Forward & Uplift All Cancer Survivors Through Movement

#TeamMunira

Our Mission

On June 2, 2019 Munira organized her own Walk & Run in partnership with the Brave Like Gabe Foundation in Atlanta, GA driven by a deep admiration for Gabe’s story. Despite battling her own cancer, Munira was determined to contribute towards the fight for Rare Cancer Research. Her selflessness and dedication to advancing research for a potential cure, even while facing her own challenges, perfectly captured the essence of her generous spirit.

In her legacy, an annual Walk & Run will be hosted in Houston, TX supporting and benefiting the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation and Rare Cancer Research. We encourage all friends & family to please register below and join #TeamMunira. 

Seymour Lieberman Trail at Memorial Park

April 19, 2025 at 8AM

Fundraising Goals

In This Family,
No One Fights Alone

Our mission is to raise $5,000 to fund life-changing research for Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma—but we can’t do it without you. Munira lost her battle after a courageous six-year fight, and we are raising funds so other families can benefit from better treatments and hope for the future. Every step counts, and every donation brings us closer to making a difference. Donate, walk, or run with us today!

The Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation (ACCRF) was started in 2005 with the goal of getting better therapies to ACC patients as fast as possible. Over the past 15 years, a motivated community of patients and researchers has fueled advances in scientific understanding and a strong pipeline of ACC clinical trials. ACCRF has been instrumental in bringing about all the major ACC research milestones.

#TeamMunira Tracker:

100%

Our Goal

$11,500

Pavilion Sponsors

Supporting Partners

Supporting Families

Houston Moves with Munira

Calling all Houstonians! Spread the word to your friends, family, and any cancer survivors who want to move with purpose and make a difference in Rare Cancer Research. Please tag #moveformunira and #teammunira in your preparations!