AFFINITY IN ACTION
Individuals and organizations dedicated to supporting Scott & White
Robert S . Love Foundation
A true friendship not only stands the test of time but also can be so powerful that it changes many people ’ s lives .
hen Robert S . Love and Chuck Lucko were high school
W students in Temple , TX , neither had any idea how their lives would eventually become intertwined ; they weren ’ t even friends at the time . Later , when both men started competing surveying businesses in the area , they learned they had a lot in common , and they eventually ended up as business partners .
When Mr . Love was diagnosed with liposarcoma in 1994 , he learned that this type of cancer , which targets fat cells in the body , couldn ’ t be cured . He then began a nine-year battle , always with his wife , Cindy , their four children and his friend Mr . Lucko by his side . During his buddy ’ s illness , Mr . Lucko drew strength from him as well , as he faced his own fight with testicular cancer , which was successfully treated at Scott & White Healthcare . Mr . Love would endure many long surgeries to remove recurring tumors , but in 2002 he lost his life at age 43 .
A foundation is formed In 2007 as the five-year anniversary of his friend ’ s death was approaching , Mr . Lucko decided that the time was right to organize a foundation or a fundraising event in Mr . Love ’ s honor . Mr . Lucko had become acquainted with Scott & White Healthcare President and CEO Alfred B . Knight , MD , through his participation in the Temple Business League . About the same time , Mr . Lucko also became acquainted through a men ’ s tennis league with Scott & White Cancer Research Institute ( CRI ) Executive Director Dr . Arthur Frankel . It seemed like the perfect time to create a foundation in honor of a great friend .
The Robert S . Love Foundation was formed to fund worldclass cancer research at Scott & White . “ We ’ re proud to have created a charitable organization that supports healthcare in
Love Cures 2010 Dinner and Auction
Thursday , October 28 , 2010 Mayborn Convention Center , Temple , TX
Visit www . lovecures . org for information on CRI tours and other events in 2010 . our own community ,” says Mr . Lucko . “ We ’ re committed to continuing to support Dr . Frankel ’ s work and the superior-quality research taking place at Scott and White .”
Dr . Frankel assembled a research effort that has shown impressive results so far . “ We ’ re developing an antibody that blocks ‘ signaling ’ or the development of certain types of cancer , including sarcomas ,” he says . “ We ’ re hopeful this agent will send tumors into remission , providing a lasting legacy for Robert ’ s bravery during his illness .” ( Please see page 6 for more information on Dr . Frankel ’ s work .)
Foundation events find success “ Love Cures ” debuted in October 2008 with four sports events : cycling , running , tennis and golf . A gala event , the Love Cures Dinner and Auction , was also held at the CRI . The keynote speaker was Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong ’ s mother , Linda Armstrong Kelly , who spoke about her son ’ s own struggle with cancer and inspired attendees to continue the fight against it . All of these events resulted in a gift of $ 62,000 to the CRI from the Robert S . Love Foundation . The events were held again in October 2009 , with much success : $ 70,000 was raised , bringing the total to $ 132,000 . The 2009 event premiered the Love Cures video , with remarks from Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison , rock-and-roll legend Ted Nugent , and a colonel currently serving in the US Army . Attendees at the 2009 dinner and auction included Congressman John Carter and Bell County Judge Jon Burrows . Several other local officials attended as well .
“ Guests were amazed at the level of research being done at the CRI ,” says Mr . Lucko . “ We ’ re so excited about what the future could bring .”
The foundation will continue to host four events each year to appeal to a wide variety of cycling , running , tennis and golf enthusiasts . “ The Robert S . Love Foundation ’ s support is vital to helping us advance our knowledge about cancer ,” says Dr . Frankel . “ We ’ re so pleased that this wonderful organization has become our partner .” ■
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