More than 800 supporters turned out for the 2018 Tina’s Wish Annual Benefit Dinner, raising $2 million for research aimed at ovarian cancer prevention and early detection, the organization announced.
Since its 2008 inception, Tina’s Wish has raised more than $11 million for ovarian cancer research. Held Sept. 27 at the American Museum of Natural History during National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the event also honored Jay Goffman as recipient of the Tina Brozman Mentoring Award.
The fundraiser included a moving video featuring Michele Coriale, a 42-year-old ovarian cancer survivor who had been misdiagnosed for four years. The video also showcased the scientific progress of Tina’s Wish research projects.
“It’s so important that early detection gets the place it deserves in cancer research,” said Tina’s Wish researcher Dipanjan Chowdhury of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a comprehensive cancer treatment and research center in Boston, Massachusetts.
“There’s a lot of focus on drug discovery, sophisticated methods of surgery. They’re all super important, but early detection seems to be the stepchild of cancer biologists.”
Because of its relatively subtle symptoms and the lack of an effective early detection method, 80 percent of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. The five-year survival rate for women diagnosed at Stage 1 is 92%, but that drops to 27% for Stage 3 and 4 diagnoses.
Tina Brozman died in 2007, two years after her diagnosis, and had been angry she didn’t know sooner that she had cancer. Formally known as The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation, the organization, which honors Brozman’s memory, is dedicated to the prevention and early detection of ovarian cancer.
Goffman praised Brozman as a judge who understood the importance of honesty and integrity. Involved in numerous philanthropic and charitable causes, he has long supported Tina’s Wish. Goffman also has been affected by cancer in his family.
“The doctors and scientists are making progress and someday soon, if they have sufficient funding, they will find that early detection screen,” said Goffman, global co-head of the New York-based law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
“When they do, ovarian cancer will be something that will be talked about historically, as an illness that used to kill many, but no longer does. That day is not that far away and everyone in this room can be part of that historic achievement.”
Tina’s Wish is still accepting donations as part of the annual fundraiser. Go here to contribute.
Tina’s Wish will have another benefit in Richmond, Virginia on Nov. 15, featuring Sarah Temkin of the VCU Massey Cancer Research Center. For more information, go here. Last year, the inaugural “Richmond Gathering” raised more than $41,000 for ovarian cancer research.