Local nonprofit group gives $150,000 for cancer research
BY SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Friday, December 28, 2012
12/28/12 at 6:02 AM
The local nonprofit organization Cancer Sucks donated $150,000 on Thursday to finance cancer research.
The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma each received $40,000, and the Gateway for Cancer Research received $70,000, the largest single donation in Cancer Sucks' history.
The organization was able to make the donations because of successful fundraisers such as a concert at the Cain's Ballroom and a golf tournament. Cancer Sucks also was selected as the designation charity on the Shiprocked Music Cruise.
"We've had a very successful year," Executive Director Rick Horton said at a news conference.
The Gateway for Cancer Research has received donations from Cancer Sucks for more than 10 years to help finance research that can help improve the lives of cancer patients, said Karen Kay, director of development.
The organization focuses on helping patients have a better quality of life immediately, she said.
"If it's not going to help them feel better today, then it doesn't make it through our stringent process," she said.
Jari Askins, director of marketing and outreach at the OU cancer center, was on hand to accept the donation Thursday.
The money will go toward research of pancreatic cancer, which can be difficult to detect, said Askins, a former Oklahoma lieutenant governor and state lawmaker.
"A lot of the efforts of research are going to earlier detection," she said.
The money donated to OSU will help with research into how hormones drive the growth of liver and uterine cancers, as well as to train future researchers, said Rashmi Kaul, associate professor of immunology at the OSU Center for Health Sciences.
These studies can help with finding early detection markers, Kaul said.
"We are progressing a lot in this area," she said.
Horton said Cancer Sucks will receive part of the proceeds from the VIP tent at the coming event The Party! New Year's Eve Tulsa, which will begin at 9 p.m. Monday in downtown Tulsa.
Original Print Headline: Nonprofit group gives $150,000 for cancer study
Shannon Muchmore 918-581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Former Lt. Gov. Jari Askins accepts a $40,000 donation from Cancer Sucks on behalf of the OU Health Sciences Center at the Holiday Inn in downtown Tulsa on Thursday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Rick Horton of Cancer Sucks (left) shares a hug with Karen Kay from the Gateway for Cancer Research during a check presentation at the Holiday Inn in downtown Tulsa on Thursday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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