A Gainesville nonprofit made its first donation of $15,000 to the UF Health Cancer Center on Monday to research an uncommon but deadly form of cancer.
About 20 people attended the check presentation at the UF Health Cancer and Genetics Research Complex atrium. Survivors for Research, formed in March, raised the money to support research for triple-negative breast cancer, said Barb Thomas, the vice president of the organization.
Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of the disease with high rates of recurrence and death, said Dr. Coy Heldermon, a UF Health medical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer. About 30 to 35 new patients are diagnosed at the center every year, and they are treated with chemotherapy that isn’t guaranteed to work.
Thomas, 63, helped start the nonprofit with the organization's president, Terry Weber. The women raised money through donations and hosted events, where guests enjoyed afternoon tea parties.
Both women survived breast cancer, with Weber, 58, who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2012. They were proud to present the check to the UF Health Cancer Center employees, Thomas said.
“There is nothing we would rather see more than finding effective treatments for triple-negative breast cancer,” she said.
The donation is the largest the center has received for this form of breast cancer research, Heldermon said.
“We’re very thankful for involved people who are willing to put forth the time and effort and money to develop these new therapies,” he said. “It’s grassroots at its best.”
Heldermon said he will use the donation for experimental treatments, including testing tumors grown on mice.
Thomas said she wanted the majority of the donation to be used exclusively for research.
“That’s really what we’re all about, is to help fund the research to find better treatment, and I don’t say the cure,” she said.
Survivors for Research presenting their yearly donation to Dr. Jonothan Licht, Director of the Cancer Center, and a group of breast cancer researchers. From Left: Dr. Wingard, Dr. Licht, Barb Thomas, Tammy Bernard, Dr. Beverly Roberts, Cheri Knecht, Terry Weber, Brian Sevier, Dr. Coy Heldermon.
