Friend of the Friends
She’s polishing her cowgirl boots
and pulling out her Western wear,
getting ready to party the
Western way!
But to Suzanne Hanson, president of the Phoenix Friends of the Arizona Cancer Center, and to the rest of the organization's members, there’s serious commitment underlying all the event's "Give Cancer the Boot" Western fun.
Since moving to the Valley 47 years ago from Minnesota with her late husband, Howard, Suzanne Hanson has made community her business. Both during and since the time the couple raised their two daughters and one son in the Valley, Hanson has been involved in numerous Valley nonprofit organizations, some – like the Ronald McDonald House – from their inception.
In the past four or five years – the last two as president – she has given her time and efforts to the Phoenix Friends of the Arizona Cancer Center, a support group for the University of Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson. As a 30-year cancer survivor, she was drawn to the organization and is committed to helping further the vital work of Arizona’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.
The UACC’s research is conducted in Tucson and Phoenix with additional research and education locations located throughout the state and in Mexico and Colorado. In all, UACC has 73 laboratories where 300 physicians and scientists conduct research, and since 1986, the Friends organization has raised more than $6 million to support these scientists in their search to discover better treatments and cures for cancer.
Each year, the Friends designate a specific project to support with funds raised through its gala fundraising event, An Evening With the Friends. This year, the Friends will dedicate proceeds from the party toward the purchase of an important piece of equipment called an ApoStreamTM circulating tumor cell isolation system.
The ApoStream Platform isolates single cells and tumor cell collections from healthy cells in circulation without a needle biopsy. This allows the researcher to see why the tumor is metastasizing and how to prevent these cancerous cells from spreading to other parts of the body. The purchase of this equipment comes at the request of Dr. Andrew S. Kraft, a nationally recognized prostate cancer physician-scientist who was named director of the UACC in September 2014. The ApoStream is available for purchase only to pre-approved centers, and UACC is currently one of just seven so far pre-approved.
Hanson calls supporting the UACC a “phenomenal cause,” noting the hope and lifesaving treatment it offers through its many scientific breakthroughs.
UACC DEVELOPMENTS
Since 2011, the UACC has had two hospital affiliates, the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson, and Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. The affiliation with St. Joseph’s provides patient care and is also a research site.
There’s more good news on the near horizon. Currently under construction is a five-story state-of-the-art outpatient cancer facility at the northwest corner of Fillmore and Seventh streets in downtown Phoenix. The new University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s, scheduled to open in September 2015, will offer chemotherapy, two radiation oncology, and diagnostic imaging, interventional radiology and endoscopy services. Additional services will include education, risk assessment and counseling, wellness and support programs, symptom management and palliative care and more.
GIVE CANCER THE BOOT
The Friends have planned a fun evening for the 29th annual rendition of An Evening With the Friends on March 21. In keeping with the theme Give Cancer the Boot, guests are encouraged to wear “evening Western wear” for the night of shopping, dining and dancing at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center.
Second Shift Musicians, the renowned Western band comprised of Salt River Project employees – including general manager and CEO Mark Bonsall – will provide the dance music.
Mickey Rufenacht, Nancy Berge, Barbie Boyle, co-chairs, and Linda Mae Bucher.
Not pictured: Mary Kolbe, co-chair
Hanson praises her party and auction chairs for putting together a fabulous party and unique auction items. Among the live auction items is “Dinner for 38 at The Jim,” a party facility on the Jim Boyle Dairy. The opportunity comes complete with a party bus to pick up the attendees to take them to and return them from the east Mesa farm.
