DCC presents check for more than $5 million to Sylvester at Cancer Moonshot Summit

Special to UM News

From left: Michael Mandich, CEO of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge; Jason Jenkins, senior vice president of communications and community affairs for the Miami Dolphins; Eric Feder, vice chairman for the Dolphins Cancer Challenge; Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer; and Adam Carlin, chairman of the Sylvester Board of Governors.

MIAMI, Fla. (July 1, 2016) — Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine hosted a Cancer Moonshot Summit on June 29 as part of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s nationwide effort to make more therapies available to more patients, while also improving our ability to prevent cancer and detect it at an early stage. Across the country, hundreds of cancer centers, hospitals, and patient advocacy groups hosted summits – from Miami to Anchorage, Alaska.

“This is the first really full-blown collaboration where all the stakeholders came together, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it,” Vice President Biden said during the Cancer Moonshot live cast. “I want to thank you for your incredible work and your dedication. I am more optimistic than I have ever been since we launched the Moonshot.”

More than 80 cancer patients, survivors, their family members, doctors and researchers attended the two-hour event at Sylvester. The goal of the summit was to educate participants about the progress that has been made in cancer care and research at Sylvester. They learned what is on the horizon with regard to new cancer treatments, discussed individual experiences, and heard from the Vice President about the Cancer Moonshot and its objectives.

As a special surprise, representatives from the Miami Dolphins visited the Sylvester Cancer Moonshot Summit to present a check for more than $5 million for cancer research at Sylvester that was raised during this year’s Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC).

“Cancer impacts us all and we at the Miami Dolphins are committed to fighting this disease at every turn,” Miami Dolphins President & CEO and DCC Chair Tom Garfinkel said. “With the expansion of this year’s Dolphins Cancer Challenge to include two new Fall Family Fests, a concert, and golf tournament, we were able to give Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center our biggest donation yet in our fight against cancer.”

DCC funds are used to support truly innovative research, helping recruit and retain some of the world’s best minds in cancer research and care and investing in cutting-edge technologies to bring the latest in discoveries for detection, diagnosis, and treatment to cancer patients in South Florida and beyond. In just six years, more than $16 million has gone to fund research at Sylvester that leads to more effective targeted therapies for each patient’s cancer.

“We are so grateful to the Dolphins organization and to every rider, walker, runner, and fundraiser for continuing to support groundbreaking cancer research at Sylvester,” Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., said during the check presentation. “On behalf of our team of more than 250 cancer specialists and researchers at Sylvester – and our cancer patients and their families – thank you! It is a truly remarkable achievement as every dollar raised has a tangible impact on cancer research and advancing precision cancer care at Sylvester.”

After the DCC check presentation, summit participants had the opportunity to discuss their own experiences with Sylvester doctors and researchers, and follow up with questions on Vice President Biden’s live cast. Everyone in attendance was energized by the discussion and the Vice President’s remarks, calling for more collaboration to find better treatments and cures for cancer.

You can follow the conversations around the Cancer Moonshot Summit on social media by using the hashtag #CanServe.