The annual gala, held at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, benefits Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Actor and comedian Dana Carvey was the special guest this year.
Dollars raised at the gala support the Foundation’s Cancer Frontier Fund, established by Bill and Amy Koman to speed research breakthroughs at Siteman that will lead to new ways to prevent and treat cancer.
“We’re grateful to be the recipients of such incredible generosity,” says Tim Eberlein, MD, director of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center. “Because of support from people such as the Foxes and the Taylors and others in the community, we can conduct the vital research necessary to move us to the next level of cancer prevention and treatment.”
Since 2010, the Foundation has supported nearly 50 research projects, including those at Siteman through the Cancer Frontier Fund. These projects pave the way to find better treatments for a variety of cancers, as well as to develop new techniques to provide more individualized treatment.
“Our patients are counting on us,” Dr. Eberlein says. “That’s why we’re working so hard to bring better treatments to patients faster. Research support is essential to making that happen.”
One of the videos at the gala focused on a Bill Jehling, a leukemia survivor who will co-captain Team Leukemia for Pedal the Cause in September. You can read more about Bill here.
Next year’s illumination gala to benefit cancer research at Siteman is planned for June 3, 2017.