Hundreds of donors responded to the Wes and Nancy Lematta Challenge for Cancer Research, which raised $2,281,000 between September and December 2006 – topping the $2 million goal. The Lemattas have added their own gift of $2 million to the gift sum, bringing the total raised last fall to $4,281,000 toward Providence Cancer Center’s research and building project.
Wes’ daughter Jill was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in 1991. Although cured of this disease, she passed away in 2005 from metastatic breast cancer that arose as a complication of her curative therapy for the Hodgkin’s disease. The most advanced cancer treatments available today provided time, but could not stop the breast cancer.
“Providence embraced us during challenging times,” says Nancy Lematta. “Now we are reaching out to help others who are courageously facing cancer.”
Together with Providence and other community leaders, Wes and Nancy Lematta have been a driving force behind the promising OX40 antibody cancer treatment, now a phase I clinical trial at the Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center in the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute. The Lemattas made their first major gift to Providence Cancer Center in 2003, contributing $1 million to a research laboratory in their family’s name. Their most recent major gift of $2 million will be recognized with the naming of the Jill Lematta Cancer Learning Center, which will be open to all cancer patients and their families to help them learn more about the disease, care and patient support.
Funds from the 2006 fall Lematta Challenge will support Providence Cancer Center trials for various forms of cancer and the construction of the new Cancer Center building at Providence Portland Medical Center, which in 2008 will more than double lab space dedicated to cancer research. Providence Cancer Center is a major beneficiary of the Providence Together campaign, which seeks to raise $74 million. Of that amount, $40 million is being sought for the new Cancer Center building. With help from the Lematta Challenge, $27 million has been raised toward the $40 million goal.
To learn more about making a gift to Providence Cancer Center, please
contact:
Cindy Silveira, major
gift officer, at 503-215-6220.