The Night We Sent Cancer a Message

Tomorrow, 36 people in Orange County will be diagnosed with cancer and 13,000 within the next year. Four thousand of these people won’t make it to the next year. And, nearly 20 percent of Orange County cancer patients leave the county to get the treatment they need. This is not ok. We must change the picture.

On March 23, more than 600 committed people attended City of Hope’s fifth annual “Let’s Be Frank About Cancer” Gala to support cancer research and celebrate the new medical campus planned for the Great Park in Irvine. This center will be an anchor for the community, from which cancer services will branch out throughout the county. City of Hope President and CEO Robert Stone described it as, “a shining jewel in Orange County.”

The gala raised more than $1,258,000 to support research by oncologist Sumanta K. Pal, M.D., co-director of the Kidney Cancer Program at City of Hope. Dr. Pal focuses on how genitourinary cancers develop and metastasize, predicting their recurrence, and improving treatments with fewer side effects. Frank DiBella, the evening’s co-chair, shared how he was given four months to live eight years ago –that was before his began treatment with Dr. Pal. 

Frank DiBella, who co-chaired with Donna Porter, president, Premier Framing, was recognized at the event for his unending support for City of Hope and indefatigable efforts to raise awareness for amazing doctors like Dr. Pal. He is not only a survivor, he is charged up to have others join our fight against cancer. His passion knows no limits and his desire to end this illness is boundless.

Other cancer champions honored was our partner Emile Haddad, chairman and CEO, FivePoint, who received the Frank Di Bella Humanitarian Award. Hazem Chehabi, MD was honored with the Champion for Hope Award. 

It was an emotional and inspiring evening. I thank everyone who attended and supported our efforts. Our plans for City of Hope Orange County are progressing and, as witnessed at this event, we are sending cancer a message that we will beat it together.

You can read more about the event here.

-Annette