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Thousands participate in inaugural Anti-Cancer Challenge to raise funds for cancer research

UCI Health has Orange County’s only federally-designated cancer research and treatment center with access to trials, leading therapies

June 14, 2017

More than 2,000 riders, walkers and runners participated in the inaugural UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Anti-Cancer Challenge to benefit cancer research on June 10 and 11 at Angel Stadium.

Funds raised by participants will provide critical support for lifesaving cancer research at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said Richard A. Van Etten, MD, PhD, cancer center director. “It is very inspiring to see individuals and teams representing the entire community — friends, families, co-workers and companies gathered for one common goal: To end cancer.”

More than 6,000 people attended the Anti-Cancer Challenge Festival on Saturday, which included live entertainment, a children’s bike ride, a stationary bike event, food from local vendors, craft beer and exhibits. Sunday featured more than 140 teams competing in 10-, 30-, 60- and 100-mile cycling rides across Orange County and a 5K run/walk through Angel Stadium.

Van Etten cycled in the 60-mile race, as did Dr. Howard J. Federoff, vice chancellor for health affairs and CEO of UCI Health; and Dr. Michael J. Stamos, interim dean, UCI School of Medicine.

The inaugural weekend events raised more than $568,000, with fundraising continuing through June 30, 2017. Go to www.Anti-CancerChallenge.org to make a donation.

Cancer may be more than 100 different diseases and UCI Health specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer in all its forms. The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only 48 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. It is the only place in Orange County where people with advanced-stage or treatment-resistant cancers can access early phase clinical trials involving the very latest therapies.

Anti-Cancer Challenge sponsors include: Monster Energy, Ambry Genetics, Hensel Phelps, Hyundai, Pfizer Oncology, Anaheim Ducks, FivePoint, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Angels Baseball Foundation, Brightview Landscape, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Critchfield Mechanical, DPR Construction, FPL and Associates, Jacobs, Geodesign, Genentech, Griffith Construction, Hologic, Lynn Capouya Inc., MA Engineers, Medline, Octapharma, Pacific Ventures Management, PIMCO Foundation, Purequosa, SCMS Sindoni Consulting & Management Services. 

Sponsors providing in-kind contributions include: Beacons Point, California Pizza Kitchen, The Cyclist, Full Psycle, Ruby’s Diner.

Anti-Cancer Challenge Celebration Concert

Nine-time Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow will headline the Anti-Cancer Challenge Celebration Concert to be held Oct. 21, 2017 at the UC Irvine Bren Events Center. The concert caps the inaugural Anti-Cancer Challenge series of events.

 “This celebration concert featuring Sheryl Crow is our way of thanking race participants, sponsors and other donors,” said Van Etten. 

Challenge participants will receive concert tickets based on their fundraising support. Those raising $500 or more will receive a ticket, $2,500 or more receive two tickets, and participants raising $10,000 or more will receive two floor tickets. In addition, top fundraisers, current and prospective sponsors will be invited to a VIP reception before the concert.  The UC Irvine Bren Events Center will also have tickets available for sale to the public.

The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

One of only 48 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only such center serving more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County.

 “Institutions lacking their own research base can quickly follow and adopt advances developed elsewhere, but they cannot lead in the same way comprehensive cancer centers that integrate research with clinical care can,” Van Etten said.  “It is our mission to translate the findings of basic research into treatments that can benefit patients.”

Established in 1989, the UC Irvine Cancer Center first achieved the NCI cancer center designation in 1994, followed by comprehensive designation in 1997. It was renamed in honor of the Chao family as the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and operates fully integrated research, prevention, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation programs.In recent years, cancer center members have led practice-changing research and clinical trials that have extended survival in lung cancercervical cancer and metastatic breast cancer and have called attention to the significant disparities that exist in access to the top treatments for ovarian cancer.  

In addition to its primary location at the UC Irvine Medical Center campus in Orange, UCI Health delivers cancer care at the UCI Health Cancer Center – Newport and UCI Health Pacific Breast Care Center, both in Costa Mesa.

For more information visit Anti-CancerChallenge.org 

About the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center: The UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Orange County, which is the sixth most populous U.S. county and home to more than 1 percent of the nation’s people. Now entering its 21st year, the center is a vital resource for the people of Orange County and surrounding areas for generation and dissemination of new knowledge about the causes, prevention, and treatment of cancer, training of the next generation of cancer providers and caregivers, and alleviation of the overall burden of cancer on our citizens.

UCI Health comprises the clinical, medical education and research enterprises of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., a 417-bed acute care hospital that provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation. U.S. News & World Report has listed it among America’s Best Hospitals for 16 consecutive years. UC Irvine Medical Center features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, and is the primary teaching hospital for UC Irvine School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County.