It's not every day that someone holds a fundraiser by throwing a house party.

Then again, it's not everyday that someone has to wake up and feel the void left by a loved one lost to cancer.

Debbie Cohen has felt that void since January 2010 when her husband, Adam Cohen, succumbed to a brain tumor after a 13-month struggle involving a battery of surgery and chemotherapy.

Recently, she decided to throw a party and asked her friends to pitch in with donations to the National Brain Tumor Society.

"He had been having headaches for weeks prior," said Debbie, about Adam's diagnosis in late 2008.

Cohen was diagnosed after headaches and vision problems had plagued him for weeks on end.  By the time doctors realized what was wrong with him, Cohen had to be rushed into emergency surgery. He survived and then entered his prolonged battle with cancer.

Adam Cohen was considered a rising star in academia when the tumor struck. He was tenured in the English department at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth the summer before, taught Shakespeare and Renaissance literature and had published one book with a second on its way to the publisher.

Rather than allow Adam to slip away, Debbie and his broad circle of friends rallied to raise money for the fight against brain tumors.

Since then, Debbie participated in two 5k walks and raised over $5,000 to aid in the fight against brain tumors and intends to continue raising money in memory of Adam. Her house party was another one of her fundraising efforts.

"From three to five today I've just had an open house in the backyard," Debbie said. "I've asked people to donate $10 per person or $25 per family."

Around 100 people came to her party and over $600 was raised.

"It's a nice way to come together also," she said. "Adam's friends in the tri-town area have been very supportive and this is a way to show my appreciation for them."

"Adam was a super, really well-loved person," said Terri Lerman, Cohen's neighbor. "He was always hopeful and optimistic and willing to go out of his way. I can't even begin to explain."

"He would make friends wherever he went," said Debbie. "I think everyone knew who he was."

Debbie intends to continue the new tradition of holding house parties to benefit the National Brain Tumor Society and continually raises money for the next walk she plans to attend.

"I'll do this for as long as people come," she said. "It's a nice tradition, I think."

To help Debbie raise money for the National Brain Tumor Society, check out www.braintumorcommunity.org/goto/debco