Fiesta Ball 2014

Just two weeks from today, on May 1st, we will celebrate our annual annual Fiesta Ball, hosted by the Young Supporters Board (YSB) of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. This is a fun and festive evening with Mexican food, drinks and live music, and an event that has become one of the most popular among Birmingham's young professionals.

Proceeds from the Fiesta Ball will benefit young cancer scientists at UAB. In tough economic times, federal funding for cancer research is extremely difficult for scientists to obtain. And if you're a young scientist just beginning your career, it's even more difficult. These young researchers are having to compete against more experienced and established scientists for grant funding. In other words, there's more competition, but less money available.

This is why events such as the Fiesta Ball are so important. Over the last few years, the YSB has been funding Young Investigator Grants, which go to cancer scientists at UAB who have been on campus less than five years. These grants are already showing results - David Schneider, Ph.D., the recipient of the first grant in 2008, was able to conduct research that allowed him to leverage that $40,000 grant into one for $1.2 million from the National Cancer Institute!  

We hope you will join us for this year's Fiesta Ball to help us make a difference in the fight against cancer!

What: Fiesta Ball 2014
When: Thursday, May 1st, 6 p.m.
Where: B&A Warehouse
Tickets: $30 in advance/$35 at the door
To purchase tickets, or for more information: www.uab.edu/fiestaball

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo for a Cause

Tonight, May 5th, is the 5th annual Fiesta Ball, hosted by the Young Supporters Board of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. This is a fun and festive evening with Mexican food, drinks and live music, and an event that I look forward to every year.

This year, however, our hearts and minds are certainly with all of those in our community affected by last week's devastating tornados. So while we celebrate Cinco de Mayo and our progress in the fight against cancer, we're also taking this opportunity to help tornado victims across Alabama. Tonight we will be collecting toiletries, cleaning supplies and bottled water to be donated to the Salvation Army for their local relief efforts. For those who bring a donation to the Fiesta Ball, they will receive $5 off the ticket price.

I encourage you to join us at Innovation Depot tonight at 6 p.m. for what is truly a great event. The money we raise will benefit young cancer scientists at UAB, and we will also have a silent auction filled with fabulous items to raise money for the board's Patient and Family Services Committee.

I am always amazed and proud of the passion and energy that the Young Supporters Board has for the fight against cancer. These young professionals are leading the way and helping us find a cure. I hope you will join us in celebrating for a cause.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.