August 29, 2007

SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU To Hold Annual Denim

and Diamonds Fundraiser

The SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University is hosting its seventh “Denim and Diamonds” fundraiser on Saturday, September 29.  Funds raised will help develop facilities in the Institute’s permanent building which opens in 2008, especially for the five state-of-the-art research laboratories and amenities in the chemotherapy infusion area.

Event guests are encouraged to dress in their finest denim or formal attire for the event, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield.  Tickets are $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10 and available by calling the SIU Foundation office, 217-545-2955 weekdays.

This year’s major sponsors are Citi Smith Barney, Denney Jewelers, Memorial Medical Center, St. John’s Hospital, H.J. and Beverly Collins, Humana, and Joan and Charlie Robbins.

The event will feature live music by DK Money of Springfield and a dinner including Colorado sirloin steak and skewered Key lime shrimp.  Both live and silent auctions will be conducted with items including a Steamboat Spring Colorado condo, Italian dinner for eight, jet ride and dinner to a Chicago restaurant of choice, sports tickets and original artwork.

The SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute is focusing SIU’s efforts in cancer research, physician and public education, and treatment for patients from across central and southern Illinois.  The new three-story building will consolidate the School’s multi-disciplinary cancer clinics along with research and outreach service programs.  The Institute’s Web site is
www.siumed.edu/cancer.

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