A Record-Breaking Investment

On Saturday, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center hosted its annual ArtBLINK Gala at The Kirklin Clinic. I am extremely proud and excited to report that this year's solicitation campaign, led by the center's Advisory Board, raised nearly $1.5 million for the Cancer Center's Fund for Excellence. This is by far our biggest fundraising total ever!

The Fund for Excellence allows us to have flexible dollars that can be used to support high-priority areas where money is the most-needed. This includes research projects, recruiting new physicians and scientists, and services for patients and their families. With this money, we can invest in promising initiatives and help them grow into major successes.

Of course, I have to thank everyone who donated to our efforts this year, as well as all of our corporate sponsors. I also want to thank each of our 18 artists who shared their talents with us by creating artwork for our guests, which brought in an additional $28,000 to our total. The support of our community is critical to the Cancer Center's success, so believe me when I say that we couldn't do what we do without you!

I look forward to another great event in 2013 and to sharing our successes thanks to your investment in us - the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.

Tremendous Thanks for a Tremendous Gift

BCRFA President Dianne Mooney
presents this year's donation.

Today, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center received an extremely generous donation from one of its most loyal and longstanding community partners, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. The BCRFA hosts events and other fundraising opportunities throughout the year, and in turn donates all of its proceeds to the Cancer Center for breast cancer research. I was extremely grateful and proud to accept their donation today of $500,000 - their largest contribution yet, topping last year's record by $100,000.

Particularly rewarding today was honoring the two people who started the BCRFA. Dolly O'Neal and Bruce Sokol are two friends who came together with a joint purpose and a common goal: funding the research that would lead to a cure for breast cancer. What began as a small effort with just a few people has turned into an amazing organization that, to date, has raised more than $3 million for breast cancer research at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.


That is one reason why it was so exciting to announce that in honor of Dolly and Bruce, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the O'Neal-Sokol Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama Endowed Professorship at its most recent meeting. This represents the tremendous impact they have had in the fight against cancer.


Part of that impact has been helping turn the Cancer Center's breast cancer research and clinical enterprise into one of the premier programs in the United States. And one of our leading breast cancer specialists is Dr. Andres Forero, who was also approved by the Board of Trustees to be the inaugural recipient of the new professorship. Dr. Forero has become a nationally recognized leader in the research and treatment of breast cancer, and the Cancer Center is extremely proud of his success and work.

The support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama is critical to our success here at the Cancer Center, and I am proud to have them as a community partner. They truly set the standard for a group who wants to make a difference in the fight against cancer. I thank them for their support.


-Ed Partridge, M.D.