Trends Gala to Benefit UArizona Cancer Center

This year's Legends and Legacies Trends Gala will benefit the University of Arizona Cancer Center. The event will take place on Nov. 12 at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn in Paradise Valley, Arizona beginning at 5:30 p.m. and feature entertainment from The 5th Dimension. Co-chaired by Valley advertising legend Carrie Martz, community activist Ania Kubicki, and Trends publisher, Bill Dougherty, the gala honors 10 women named as trendsetters for their community leadership and volunteerism. Fabulous Phoenician, Nancy Berge, will also be honored for her community contributions. 

The celebration will include the presentation of the 2022 Trendsetters, including: Audry Alfano, Sheryl Cooper, Carol Dries, Micheline Etkin, Dyan Getz, Colleen Katz, Kolby Moffatt, Lorraine Tallman, Monica Villalobos, and Mary Way. New in 2022, This Girl’s on Fire Award honors entrepreneur Kristen Shroyer. Gala Chair, Carrie Martz, created the award to shine the spotlight on up-and-coming leaders and to pave the way for the next generation of Trendsetters. 

The evening will benefit biomarker and ovarian cancer research being done at the cancer center. The proceeds this year will go specifically to a University program called Biomarkers: 21st Century Approach to Cancer Research. This program involves a comprehensive approach to personalized medicine based on the University’s fundamental research with biomarkers. 

“One of the reasons biomarkers are important for us to understand as cancer researchers is because they can help us to find better ways to treat individuals,” said Joann Sweasy, PhD, the Nancy C. and Craig M. Berge Endowed Chair and University of Arizona Cancer Center director. “Just because two people have the same kind of cancer in the same part of the body doesn’t mean that the disease will progress the same or respond the same way to the same treatments. Part of what we’re doing is exploring why exactly that’s the case.”

Biomarkers can be used to assess an individual’s risk of developing cancer or a reoccurrence. They can also predict the likelihood of successful treatment and help monitor disease progression to determine the efficacy of treatment.
The program will provide optimal care for patients based on the latest and most relevant care possible. The goal is to raise $500,000 to endow this program with a scientist, data analyst, technicians, bioinformatic support and essential equipment.

Trends Charitable Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 1995 to issue grants to Arizona 501(c)(3) organizations that meet the Fund’s mission to support programs in need that positively impact women, children and their families where the Fund can make a significant difference. Over the years, Trends Charitable Fund has donated over $5,000,000.   

For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit www.trendscharitablefund.org