The Cattlemen for Cancer Research (CCR) slates its 15th annual auction, October 19 at the Hills Prairie Livestock Auction Company, 1177 Hwy. 304 in Bastrop. The fundraiser, benefiting the Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research at The University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center, will include a silent auction featuring hundreds of donated items, a children’s arts and crafts tent, a live cattle auction and a complimentary barbecue lunch. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the live auction starts at 2 p.m.
In 2010, the organization established the Cattlemen for Cancer Research Hero Award to honor outstanding contributions to the care of patients from Central Texas. CCR will honor Charles Levenback, M.D., professor in Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine and associate chief quality officer for Medical Affairs, and Kimberly Burns, R.N., advanced nurse practitioner in Gynecologic Oncology, as this year’s winners.
Central Texas patient Coey Zapalac, who is cancer-free approximately 18 months after beginning treatment at MD Anderson, nominated Levenback and Burns for the CCR Hero Award, describing them as “wonderful and very caring.”
“I don't know what my life would have been if Dr. Levenback and Kim were not chosen as my care team,” said Zapalac. “I just know that they and the prayers of so many are the reason I'm here today. I still go to MD Anderson every three months and am so thankful to see Dr. Levenback and Kim each time. They are two of the best people I know. MD Anderson is so fortunate to have two such outstanding clinicians. In my mind, they deserve to be honored every day for what they do for patients like me.”
Levenback is passionate about clinical effectiveness and patient safety but says the best part of his job is connecting with patients such as Coey.
“She and I come from different universes. Coey’s from Central Texas, and I’m from New York. But the whole cancer experience brought us together. Being able to help somebody in her situation was extremely rewarding,” said Levenback, adding that news of the CCR honor was a “big, wonderful, pleasant surprise.”
Burns, who treated Zapalac alongside Levenback, believes strongly in the importance of educating the community on cancer prevention and awareness.
“Coey and I immediately connected,” said Burns. “She’d open up to me, and we’d figure out what we could do to make things better, during her visits and on the phone. She’s an amazing person, and the fact that she nominated Dr. Levenback and me as a team for the Hero Award is a true honor.”
Each year the CCR auction also honors a cancer survivor. The tradition continues with this year’s plans to honor mesothelioma survivor Frank Vega, of Coupland. In 2007, Vega’s oncologist in Austin gave him six months to live. Seven years later, Vega credits MD Anderson with extending his life when others gave him no hope.
“I’m thankful to my surgeon, Dr. Wayne Hofstetter, and my oncologist, Dr. Bonnie Glisson, for pulling me through,” said Vega. “I’m a big advocate for MD Anderson. It’s a place of hope. You see people there from all over the world, all ages. There’s a reason for that.”
CCR began as a grass-roots effort in 1999 when a group of Central Texas residents combined their love of ranching with their commitment to fighting cancer. The organization has raised more than $1.5 million to advance research initiatives and programs at the Keeling Center. Proceeds from 2012 totaled $105,000, including $21,000 to a separate fund to help Central Texas-area patients and their families. The fund offers financial assistance with meals, lodging and other costs incurred during treatment at MD Anderson in Houston.
“It’s such a privilege to be a part of the Cattlemen for Cancer Research,” said Christian R. Abee, D.V.M., director of the Keeling Center. “This organization is composed of people from Central Texas who want to make a difference in the fight against cancer. They epitomize the care, concern and generosity that have always been a part of the Texas spirit.”
For more information on Cattlemen for Cancer Research, visit www.cattlemenforcancerresearch.org.
0 comments:
Post a Comment