Wilmot's Discovery Ball Raises More Than $620,000 for Breast Cancer Research
Nearly 700 donors, faculty, staff and patients attended the 17th annual Discovery Ball on Saturday, April 30, at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester to support UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute. The event raised $622,250 to support breast cancer research.
“With our team at Comprehensive Breast Care at Pluta and our scientists across the medical center, we are leading the region in breast cancer care and research,” said Jonathan W. Friedberg, M.D., M.M.Sc., director of Wilmot Cancer Institute. “Together, we can grow our breast cancer research program to national prominence, reinforcing our role as a hub for progress against cancer.”
Funds raised at the Discovery Ball will be used to strengthen Wilmot’s breast cancer research program, bolster the clinical trials portfolio and draw more top medical and scientific talent to the region.
During the event, the late Fran Mann, a well-known advocate for women with advanced breast cancer, was posthumously honored with the Inspiration Award, Wilmot’s highest honor. The Inspiration Award is presented annually to an individual who has inspired others in the cancer community and exemplifies courage, strength and grace in the face of either their own personal cancer journey or from the perspective of a caregiver.
Mann was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996 and again in 2002. Four years later, she developed metastatic disease, but she was determined that her diagnosis going to change her lifestyle or define who she was. She became a well-known ambassador in the breast cancer community and a source of strength and support to other survivors. Her daughter, Michelle Mann, accepted the award in her honor.
Wilmot board member Carol Mullin and her husband Tom co-chaired this year’s Discovery Ball.
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UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute is the Finger Lakes region’s leader for cancer care and research. As a component of Strong Memorial Hospital, Wilmot Cancer Institute provides specialty cancer care services at the University of Rochester Medical Center and a network of locations throughout the region. The Institute also includes a team of 100 scientists who investigate many aspects of cancer, with an emphasis on how best to provide precision cancer care. To learn more, visit wilmot.urmc.edu.