by intern Carly Maltzman
Photo credit: intern Nicole Nicholas
“This event is really an important landmark for us as a society and as a group,” said oncologist John Marshall at the 3rd annual Blue Hope Bash at the Four Seasons in Georgetown. “It’s a good time for us to get together and celebrate our successes but at the same time recognize how much more work there is to do.”
The evening of hope and inspiration brought together supporters and special guests to raise awareness for colon cancer prevention, research and to help benefit the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation.
Three awards were presented to individuals who have supported the organization through tremendous efforts: the Christine Sapienza Memorial Award, the Elika Hemphill Memorial Award and the Ambassador of Hope Memorial Award.
Michael Sapienza, President of Chris4life, started the organization after his mom passed away from Colon Cancer.
John Marshall, the oncologist who treated Michael’s mom, spoke about Christine Sapienza: “She was a fabulous person to take care of and she was a wonderful woman and a brave soul. When she died, it clearly left a hole and this organization is filling that hole for them in so many ways.”
Marshall is currently on the scientific board. He and his colleagues showed their support at the Bash in hopes that Chris4Life can help raise the funds that will be given to the best scientists around the country.
Dr. John Marshall
ABC7/WJLA reporter Jennifer Donelan returned for the third year to host the event. She presented the awards and recipients took over the microphone graciously thanking the organization.
Kathryn Fin Bloom, award recipient, spoke on behalf of herself and the other award recipients: “There are so many patients are out there fighting for their lives and at the same time helping others and that’s my mission as well. I know a lot of people don’t want to hear me say this but, you can have the most positive attitude in the world, you can have very strong faith and prayer, you can have great support and family, but that will NOT cure you,” Bloom said with confidence.
Following Bloom’s thank you speech were the rest of the award presentations.
Michael Sapienza spoke on behalf of the organization: “If we could take a second to imagine what our lives and our families lives or your life for that matter if cancer didn’t exist. What does this mean to you?” He asked the audience to imagine that with their eyes closed. His words were extremely powerful.
“This is the vision [without cancer] that Chris4Life strives for each and every day,” he continued. He assured the audience that his aspirations are very plausible with the right research and the proper funds. “We want to make sure that not a single human being is diagnosed with colon cancer. We are all here so we can make that vision come true.”
His passion to develop the funds and find the pathway that can lead to a cure is what created his involvement and why 200+ people gathered at the Bash: “It is not ok that the richest country in the world with a – well now a budget – he joked – of 4 trillion dollars a year and it is not ok that our government only allocates 40 million dollars to the prevention of a 90% preventable disease. We need to work together to do what our friends and our colleagues and the breast cancer world has done so well. We need to make blue the new pink.”
And with that said, the audience applauded and cheered the motto of colon cancer: “We love our butts!”
After the dinner, guests were treated to a live musical performance by blues artist Ted Garber, a white tiled dance floor and a night full of merriment and hope.
