Life Savers gala offers night of entertainment
Sam`s Town Riverfront Ballroom might look more like the theater in “The Phantom of the Opera” for the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center’s Life Savers fundraiser gala – Masquerade.
Chairman Melinda Kent said the idea for Masquerade was inspired by her love for “The Phantom of the Opera,” but there is also a double meaning in the theme.
“Cancer masquerades itself as different illnesses,” Kent said. “What you thought you had – a cold or back pain – could end up being cancer. It’s not always the signs that you think of when you think about cancer.”
This year’s gala will be a black tie dinner with cash bar and a silent auction starting at 7 p.m. Sept. 7. Tickets are $200 and available in advance by contacting Anne Higdon, director of development at Feist- Weiller, at 813-1423.
The gala is raising funds for the Idea Grant, a grant dedicated to local scientists’ work in cancer research. The Idea Grant is a grant awarded each year to Feist-Weiller scientist(s) to go toward their cancer research. More than $1.3 million has been allocated to 23 local scientists through the Idea Grant in the past 14 years.
The recipients of the Idea Grant can use their award to set-up or further their lab studies. In turn they can leverage the Idea Grant to receive additional funding from outside sources. More than $8 million in national grants has been awarded to the Idea Grant recipients. All research performed under the Idea Grants stays local and within the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center.
At this year’s Life Savers gala, Feist- Weiller will honor Dr. Jun Chung, a recipient of a $20,000 Idea Grant in 2006. Chung used the award to set up his laboratory and compile data, after which he received a $747,000 grant from the American Cancer Society, $100,000 grant from the Department of Defense, and most recently a $1.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study how cancer cells spread.
Cancer education and support of research and patient has increased in the Shreveport-Bossier City communities, but the fight is ongoing.
“We used to see people come in at Stage 4 and 5 of cancer, now we are seeing a lot more patients in the early stages,” Higdon said. “It’s so much easier to catch cancer in the early stages, and education plays a big part in this.”
Feist-Weiller provides free cancer screening for the public and it has a host of other programs.
“Sixty percent of our patients come from more than 100 miles and they have to come every week,” Higdon said. “They can’t work because they are sick and a lot of people are from a difficult lower economic bracket. It’s difficult to come here every day to get chemotherapy, so we have donated funds to assist them.
“We also have a patient art program that is funded by community grants.”
Though the Life Savers fundraiser is for the Idea Grant, donations toward other programs are welcomed. The Life Savers gala gives the chance to become a hero and help unmask cancer.
“If you’ve been around someone who has suffered from cancer you know that when they are going through treatments it is very hard,” Kent said. “Life Savers is giving back to the community in a way that really matters. It touches so many people in a very personal way because you’re trying to help them save themselves.”
Guests will dance to Musical Fantasy, a band from Alabama who will play Motown and today’s hit music. The silent auction will feature a wide variety of packages.
“We have auction items for every price range,” Kent said. “Skin care lines from dermatologists, a party for 50 from Superior Grill that includes invitations, food and beer, specialty jewelry from Sid Potts and more.”
At Masquerade, masks are optional; however, many have already shared their enthusiasm to follow the theme.
“There’s been a lot of excitement about it,” Higdon said. “There are many people who have said they are going to make their mask and some people are buying masks.”
For more information about the Life Savers and the Idea Grant, go to www. feistweiller.org/.
–Tiana Kennell
