Dear Friends,

As we move into the heart of the holidays, I wanted to thank you for your heart.  If you are seeing this message, you have in some way contributed to the work we do at Western States, and you have seen our new messaging about taming the dragon that lives as cancer in our midst.

Reflecting on this past year, once again, I remember friends who have passed after valiant fights against their cancers.  Watching their battles gave me renewed energy to stay at the helm of our amazing organization and work along side my teammates and the wonderful clinical staffs at our consortium member sites…bringing clinical trials into local communities across the U.S. has never been more necessary.

When my dear friend Ken Dawson (also a Western States Trustee) knew his cancer would ultimately take him from our midst, he asked me if our organization would be around another 40 years.  I responded emphatically that I believed it would, even though I probably wouldn’t (which he found strangely funny).  Ken believed so much in the work we do and in my conviction, that he left us a huge bequest.

Ken’s heart was kind, gentle and generous, and losing him took a little light out of the world for me and those who loved him.  Nevertheless, he would urge us on as we strive to give patients with cancer a fighting chance against their dragons through the option of clinical trials.

If you haven’t already made a gift to Western States, please consider us as this year draws to a close.  It is never too late to put your heart into the work we do, and we are always grateful to stand in solidarity with others who believe as we do in a future without cancer.

May you and yours experience a peaceful holiday and a new year filled with good health, love and laughter.

Slainte,