Retired Firefighters Donate Funds to Further the Fight Against Urologic Cancers

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A group of retired firefighters dedicated to raising funds for cancer research visited Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center today to make a significant donation that will go toward urologic cancer research, which includes prostate, bladder and kidney cancers among others.

The firefighters are members of the Retired Professional Fire Fighters Cancer Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Binghamton, N.Y. Their $12,000 donation will provide critically needed funding for new, promising research projects for a variety of urologic cancers. The gift is part of the Institute’s Friends of Urology initiative, which works to raise funds for pilot studies and to spread awareness of all urologic cancers.

“We need awareness and community support to be able to move our research ideas forward and make new discoveries that can help save cancer patients’ lives. We are so grateful to the Retired Professional Firefighters Cancer Fund for their gift, which will allow us to launch new, cutting-edge research projects, and we applaud them for their ongoing advocacy efforts on behalf of not only fellow firefighters, but cancer patients everywhere,” said James Mohler, MD, Chair of the Department of Urology, and Associate Director and Sr. Vice President for Translational Research at Roswell Park.

The Retired Professional Firefighters Cancer Fund was established in 2010 and typically funds research for types of cancer that have a higher occurrence rate among firefighters. Today’s gift marks the group’s second donation to Roswell Park. In 2012, the organization made a $10,000 donation to support kidney cancer and leukemia research.

“Once again it is my extreme pleasure to be back at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to present a check that will go toward innovative urologic cancer research at Roswell Park,” said Bill Newland, Chairman, Retired Professional Fire Fighters Cancer Fund. “Since the start of our organization, we have raised and donated more than $125,000 to established, promising cancer research programs across the country. Who better to support cancer research than the occupation most adversely affected by cancer?”

The donation comes on the cusp of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. Rochester Davis, a local firefighter and a Roswell Park patient, also attended today’s event to discuss his own personal battle with prostate cancer.

“I am a warrior at heart — not only have I battled uncontrollable fires, but I have survived my toughest feat to date, prostate cancer. I continue to fight with the support of Roswell Park, an amazing cancer institute with world-class physicians who are right here in our backyard,” he said. “I’m passionate about helping educate all men — including my fellow firefighters — about what prostate cancer is and when to get screened. And, I applaud the members of the Retired Professional Firefighters Cancer Fund, who are so dedicated to provide funds that will ultimately help people, like me, who are battling this disease have a bright future that is free of cancer.”

###

The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1898, Roswell Park is one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org. Follow Roswell Park on Facebook and Twitter.