February 2021

Dear Friends,

The Dalai Lama once said “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” In a world struggling with so much anguish, feeling love and having compassion can be a real challenge. At Western States Cancer Research NCORP (WSCR-NCORP), we keep compassion front and center in our work and in our organizational culture. Our new tagline says it all: “WSCR-NCORP…where cancer research meets compassion.” Yes, the work we do is about research, but it is about research that affects human beings and their quality of life when they are battling with cancer.

Our staff remains committed to working with physicians and their patients to have the broadest array of treatment options available when they begin their cancer journey together. We are still working remotely and following all the state and federal safety precautions for the health and well-being of our staff and our patients. While being a dispersed team is challenging, we are still a team and have been intentional in promoting activities with our staff that allow them to “play” and interact with each other remotely. This month, we are going on a trip! Virtual, of course. We are going on a safari with a live guide to &Beyond Ngala and Phinda Private Game Researves, Djuma Private Game Reserve, Tswalu and Karongwe (Pridelands) Game Reserve – all from the privacy and safety of our own homes.

As we move into spring, if the pandemic remains under control and more and more people receive the vaccine, we hope to host our annual spring fundraising event “Ribbons and Roses” on Friday, May 7th at the Lamar Street Center in Arvada.  Did you know there is a ribbon for every cancer type (like the ping one for breast cancer) or that there is a “Compassion Rose”? The evening event is a celebration of our commitment to joining compassion with cancer research. We plan to gather to enjoy good food, libations, music, and an online auction while we recognize our dedicated staff, Board of Trustees, and physician partners who bring hope to cancer patients across the West.

In addition to being our largest fundraiser, this event will also celebrate the Berris Award winners – individuals in our community who have shown an outstanding commitment to cancer clinical trial research. Watch for more information as the evening gets closer.

In the next few days, you will be receiving a direct mail piece asking you to consider making a gift to WSCR-NCORP. There are many ways to support our work, all outlined in the letter. This Valentine’s Day show your love for cancer patients and their families by making a donation that will allow us to continue to bring clinical trials to their local communities.

As always, if you have any questions or would like more information about our work, please don’t hesitate to call our office at 303.777.2663. And thank you for your support.

Be well and take good care of yourself and your loved ones.

With gratitude,