Immune to Cancer: The CRI Blog

CRI Celebrates a Future #Immune2Cancer on June 14 – Wear White Day

CRI Staff

On Friday, June 14, 2019, the global cancer community joined the Cancer Research Institute’s Wear White Day to help raise awareness about the lifesaving potential of immunotherapy. Supporters across the spectrum wore white—scientists in lab coats; doctors in white coats; patients, caregivers, and advocates in white t-shirts—and shared their cancer immunotherapy stories.

Over 375 messages of love and support are found across social media—Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube—with the hashtag #Immune2Cancer. Family and friends held signs explaining why they chose to wear white: for loved ones lost, for those still fighting, for science, and for a Future Immune to Cancer. 

CEO Dr. Jill O’Donnell-Tormey wore white for her mom, and celebrity interior designer, Nate Berkus, wore white for his father and asked his followers to learn more about cancer immunotherapy research. Emma Heester, a YouTube star with over 1 million subscribers, shared a personal story about the importance of cancer immunotherapy research.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join me in spreading awareness about the importance of lifesaving cancer research by wearing white today! #Immune2Cancer @cancerresearchinstitute — As only a couple of you know, my boyfriend has had immunotherapy for quite some time. If it weren’t for cancer research, I most likely would have never had the pleasure of knowing him because the immunotherapy has been life saving. I am so incredibly grateful to have him in my life. He’s doing great and probably healthier than me at this point ❤️ I love u @b.muta_ — (I normally don’t share anything this personal but I am just very thankful for what the cancer research institute has already accomplished. This is also why I put those donation links in the description of my videos✨)

A post shared by Emma Heesters (@emmaheesters) on

CRI-funded scientists took creative and inspiring photos, such as the lab of Dr. Susan Kaech of Salk Institute in a T (cell) formation. That’s one way to inspire the next generation of cancer immunologists.

CRI’s 2018 William B. Coley Award recipient Dr. Miriam Merad of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai stood with other scientists at Mount Sinai including Drs. Nina Bhardwaj, Brian Brown, and Steven J. Burakoff.

Dr. Laurie Glimcher, President and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and CRI Scientific Advisory Council member, joined Wear White Day because she believes “in the power of science to advance the field of immunology to treat all cancers and save more lives.” We’re excited to see her and others at Dana-Farber at the end of July for an upcoming CRI Immunotherapy Patient Summit.

Cancer Immunotherapy Month sponsors, including AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Janssen Global, proudly showed staff in official Wear White Day t-shirts, proceeds from which support CRI scientific research programs.

In our patient community, K.C. Dill continues to cheer on CRI and shared her own heartfelt story.

Another patient Alan Kaufman shared his treatment timeline and why he chooses to wear white.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In support of the Cancer Research Institute. Today is Wear White Day. #immune2cancer

A post shared by alankaufman (@alankaufman) on

Even members of the animal kingdom contributed. Bethenny Frankel’s pets Biggy and Smallz wore white to raise awareness of the need for more cancer research.

Rory and McGee, dogs of Dr. Kathleen Kokolus of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, wore white to support our efforts in raising awareness of immunotherapy.

Wear White Day messages continued into the weekend, and you can review all the posts by checking our gallery or following the hashtag #Immune2Cancer on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Special thanks to our entire community—supporters, partners, scientists, health care professionals, patients, caregivers, and advocates—for your participation in Wear White Day. Together, we can create a Future #Immune2Cancer. There’s still more ways to get involved. Explore other activities during Cancer Immunotherapy Month this June.

View Wear White Day Photo Gallery

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