O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine Spring 2020 | Page 4

QUICK TAKES
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama presents a $1.05 million check to the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB at a
celebratory luncheon at The Club on Jan. 10.
O’NEAL CANCER CENTER RECEIVES RECORD-BREAKING $1.05M DONATION FROM BCRFA
By Beena Thannickal
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama
recently presented its largest-ever donation of $1.05
million to the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at
UAB. Since its inception in 1996, the BCRFA has given
more than $9.7 million to UAB for breast cancer research.
The BCRFA’s annual donation is a result of fundraising
efforts during the prior year, including sales of a specialty
breast cancer research license plate, organizational events
and individual and community support.
“We are extremely grateful for the generous efforts of the
BCRFA and the community at large who work so diligently
throughout the year with the sole purpose of supporting
promising breast cancer research,” said Barry Sleckman,
M.D., Ph.D., the director of the O’Neal Comprehensive
Cancer Center.
“Without the significant support of the BCRFA, we simply
would not have a leading breast cancer research program
that brings so many important, cutting-edge scientific
discoveries to the patients of this state,” Sleckman said.
Community support during 2019 included 33 Alabama
fire departments that participated in the Pink Ribbon
Project, selling T-shirts during October to raise funds
and awareness, along with dozens of other businesses,
schools, churches and individuals who used grassroots
fundraising efforts to raise money for breast cancer
research. About half of the total donation was raised
through the BCRFA specialty car tag sales, with 100
percent of the proceeds going toward research.
The BCRFA’s funding provides the seed money for the
O’Neal Cancer Center and its collaborative partners
to get breast cancer research projects off the ground.
These projects have ranged from developing novel
immunotherapeutic and metabolic approaches, to
identifying new drug targets and to developing more
effective models for breast cancer survivorship.
“As a breast cancer survivor myself, I look at this as lifesaving
work. I personally know how critical research is in
finding new treatments,” said Jill Carter, president of the
BCRFA Board of Directors. “Without the support of our
sponsors, donors and community partners, this recordbreaking
donation would not have been possible.”
2 O’NEAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER AT UAB