Oct 14 2011
Raising Funds for Breast Cancer Research
As I write this, the sun is finally peeking out from the clouds on a late Friday afternoon. It has been a busy week, as usual.
However, it did start with a bit of Lombardi-directed fun. On Monday I participated in the Swing Fore the Cure Golf Tournament in Virginia, which raises money for breast cancer research here. This year’s event was quite successful, and it was a privilege to represent Lombardi by making a brief speech before hacking my way around the course. Naturally, I did have those one or two shots that will keep me coming back for more punishment. One of the other speakers, former football player Jeff Bostic, gave a terrific talk. I was reminded about the difference between being big (me) and being huge (him) when we shook hands and my right arm disappeared somewhere in his right palm. At that moment I was exceptionally pleased to not be playing football against him!
That evening I headed up to Philadelphia to participate as an external advisor for a multi-institutional cancer vaccine grant that is funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and led by Scott Waldman from Thomas Jefferson. I spent much of Tuesday at that meeting. Wednesday was filled by a number of meetings, but culminated with a lovely event at the British Embassy, hosted by the wife of the Ambassador, Lady Scheinwald, to celebrate the Capital Breast Care Center.
This was followed the next morning by the CBCC’s annual Gift of Life Breakfast. Speakers included me, Beth Beck, executive director of the CBCC, Michelle Fenty and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, as well as a few patients. Our Keynote Speaker was Felicia Knaul, a Harvard economist and breast cancer survivor who has spearheaded efforts to improve breast cancer screening and care in Mexico.
I then had to scoot over to the State Department for a meeting on global issues related to breast cancer, which was sponsored by the Avon Foundation. As you may know, Avon has generously donated more than $5 million to support the CBCC and Lombardi-based breast cancer research over the last several years.
Then, I had the pleasure of attending a dinner for Soon Paik, the 2011 Dickson Lecturer, at Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown. Unfortunately, the skies opened up as I was walking from my car to the restaurant, drenching me as thoroughly as I could ever remember!
Friday was dominated by the Dickson lecture. I was really blown away by Soon Paik’s thoughtful presentation, and I believe he is really onto some very important concepts that can and should be translated into the clinic. It was wonderful to see Jane and Natasha Dickson, along with other members of Bob’s family, at the dinner and the luncheon that followed the lecture. If the measure of a man is the legacy he leaves behind, then Bob’s impact certainly looms even larger than Jeff Bostic’s massive grip.
One more note before I go: if you have not signed up yet to participate in the ACS Making Strides 5k on October 29, I urge you to do so. Lombardi is a flagship sponsor, which means we’ll have great visibility and it promises to be a wonderful event. Minetta Liu will be speaking on behalf of Lombardi in front of several thousand people. If you want to get involved, email lombardicomm@georgetown.edu.
That’s all for now. Have a wonderful and dry weekend.
However, it did start with a bit of Lombardi-directed fun. On Monday I participated in the Swing Fore the Cure Golf Tournament in Virginia, which raises money for breast cancer research here. This year’s event was quite successful, and it was a privilege to represent Lombardi by making a brief speech before hacking my way around the course. Naturally, I did have those one or two shots that will keep me coming back for more punishment. One of the other speakers, former football player Jeff Bostic, gave a terrific talk. I was reminded about the difference between being big (me) and being huge (him) when we shook hands and my right arm disappeared somewhere in his right palm. At that moment I was exceptionally pleased to not be playing football against him!
That evening I headed up to Philadelphia to participate as an external advisor for a multi-institutional cancer vaccine grant that is funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and led by Scott Waldman from Thomas Jefferson. I spent much of Tuesday at that meeting. Wednesday was filled by a number of meetings, but culminated with a lovely event at the British Embassy, hosted by the wife of the Ambassador, Lady Scheinwald, to celebrate the Capital Breast Care Center.
This was followed the next morning by the CBCC’s annual Gift of Life Breakfast. Speakers included me, Beth Beck, executive director of the CBCC, Michelle Fenty and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, as well as a few patients. Our Keynote Speaker was Felicia Knaul, a Harvard economist and breast cancer survivor who has spearheaded efforts to improve breast cancer screening and care in Mexico.
I then had to scoot over to the State Department for a meeting on global issues related to breast cancer, which was sponsored by the Avon Foundation. As you may know, Avon has generously donated more than $5 million to support the CBCC and Lombardi-based breast cancer research over the last several years.
Then, I had the pleasure of attending a dinner for Soon Paik, the 2011 Dickson Lecturer, at Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown. Unfortunately, the skies opened up as I was walking from my car to the restaurant, drenching me as thoroughly as I could ever remember!
Friday was dominated by the Dickson lecture. I was really blown away by Soon Paik’s thoughtful presentation, and I believe he is really onto some very important concepts that can and should be translated into the clinic. It was wonderful to see Jane and Natasha Dickson, along with other members of Bob’s family, at the dinner and the luncheon that followed the lecture. If the measure of a man is the legacy he leaves behind, then Bob’s impact certainly looms even larger than Jeff Bostic’s massive grip.
One more note before I go: if you have not signed up yet to participate in the ACS Making Strides 5k on October 29, I urge you to do so. Lombardi is a flagship sponsor, which means we’ll have great visibility and it promises to be a wonderful event. Minetta Liu will be speaking on behalf of Lombardi in front of several thousand people. If you want to get involved, email lombardicomm@georgetown.edu.
That’s all for now. Have a wonderful and dry weekend.
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