ROCKY FORD, COLO. – The Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation, a Colorado nonprofit corporation, announced the recipient of the 2013 breast cancer research grant. The grant selection committee has awarded Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, with a $30,000 grant to fund breast cancer research.
The Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Division of Hematology and Oncology at Rush University Medical Center leads the laboratory focused on translational breast cancer genetics. Their research uses powerful genetic techniques to identify molecular mechanisms of drug resistance and identify new targets for existing therapies.
Several applications submitted to the grant selection committee met the criteria set forth by the foundation, which asked that its potential grantees spend no more than 20% of the funding in administrative costs, present proof of the 501(c)(3) status, and not be otherwise sufficiently funded. Of all the applications received, the board believed that the grant funds would most positively impact Rush’s proposed research.
The Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation is comprised of pumpkin growers throughout the country, who in 2013 committed to donating funds for every pink pumpkin sold to an organization dedicated to breast cancer research. FFA students also raised substantial funds for the foundation through pink pumpkin sales.
“We want to express our gratitude to all of our Pink Pumpkin growers, without whom this grant would not have been possible,” said Carol Holsopple-Froese, president of the Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation and breast cancer survivor. “We are thrilled to be able to make a contribution to cancer research and hope this puts us one step closer to finding a cure.”
Funding from the Pink Pumpkin Foundation will specifically allow Rush to conduct research identifying the mechanism of action and propose a clinical trial evaluating adjuvant aspirin therapy in PIK3CA-mutant breast cancers, which exist in up to 45% of breast cancers.
“This award carries special significance for me because I know it came from a portion of the proceeds collected by America’s hard working pumpkin growers,” said Dr. Abde M. Abukhdeir, assistant professor in the Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology at Rush University. “My research group and I are very grateful and we hope that our research results will have a far-reaching impact on the treatment of women diagnosed with breast cancer.”
About the Pink Pumpkin Patch foundation
The Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation was created in 2012 to aid in the fight against breast cancer. The foundation is made up of America’s pumpkin growers have committed to giving a percentage of proceeds from every pink pumpkin sold to organizations involved in breast cancer research. The foundation will oversee the donations and ensure that the funds go directly to reputable organizations with the highest percentage of dollars spent on actual research.
About Rush University Medical Center
Rush is a not-for-profit health care, education and research enterprise serving as an integral part of Chicago’s health care network since 1837. The organization is comprised of Rush University Medical Center, Rush University, Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Health.
Source: Pink Pumpkin Patch foundation
