The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund Board Of Directors presented the T.J. Martell Foundation with $100,000 during the fifth annual Wine Celebration Dinner in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 6.
The contribution is part of a three-year pledge for gastric cancer research at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Formed in honor of the legendary singer who lost his life to stomach cancer, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable fund dedicated to support prostate, colon and stomach cancer research, raise awareness and educate the public with the focus that early detection and prevention is of vital importance when dealing with this deadly disease that robs families of its loved ones.
Wendy Dio, president and founder of the Cancer Fund, made the check presentation to the T.J. Martell Foundation's CEO Laura Heatherly, saying, "After my husband, Ronnie James Dio, passed away from gastric cancer, I made a promise to him to raise funds for cancer research and education and I formed the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. Two and a half years ago we pledged $300,000 to the T.J. Martell Foundation and with our recent donation of $100,000 we have met our pledge. We intend to continue to raise funds for cancer research and hope one day we can find a cure for this horrible disease."
"We have a special partnership with Wendy Dio and the Board of Directors of the Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund," said Laura Heatherly. "Both groups are working hard to do what we can to fund important cancer research that will eventually turn into drug discoveries and clinical trials which ultimately may save someone's life."
With the support of the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, Vanderbilt has established a collaborative research environment with some of the leading gastric cancer researchers in the world including Pelayo Correa, M.D., Richard Peek Jr., M.D., James R. Goldenring, M.D., Ph.D., Robert J. Coffey, M.D., Wael El-Rifai, M.D., Ph.D., and Stephen Fesik, Ph.D. These key investigators have made seminal discoveries on the causes of gastric cancer and are using these discoveries to find new therapies.
Pictured below from left to right: Laura Heatherly (TJ Martell, CEO), Wendy Dio (Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund President/CEO) and Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund Board Members Sheila Melody, Sharon Weisz and William Wegner.
Dio See also:
Dio: Dream Evil deluxe edition due next month
Ronnie James Dio’s childhood home for sale on eBay
Ronnie James Dio: The Very Beast Of Dio Vol. 2 audio preview
Ronnie James Dio: The Very Beast Of Dio Vol. 2 details released
Dio: The Singles Collection box set due next month
Ronnie James Dio: New Best Of album due this fall
VIDEO: Anthrax covers Black Sabbath classic for Dio tribute
VIDEO: James Durbin pays tribute to Ronnie James Dio
Metallica to appear on Dio, Deep Purple tribute albums
VIDEO: Ryan Adams unplugs for Dio’s Holy Diver
Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund hosts Awards Gala
Dio's '80s All-Star metal project to be reissued
Update: Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund Gala
Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund Gala announced
Ronnie James Dio compilation due next month
Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund raises more than $450,000 for cancer research
