What drives someone to fund cancer research? At the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), the answers are as personal—and powerful—as the breakthroughs they make possible.
Every donation tells a story. Some give because they’ve survived cancer. Others give to honor those who didn’t. Many give out of hope. A few even give because they lost a bet.
But all of them give because they believe—in progress, in possibility, in a future where no one has to fear cancer.
A world #Immune2Cancer.
Survivors Paying it Forward
For James Barron, that future is personal. Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in December 2020, he’s still here—4.5 years later—thanks in part to immunotherapy. “I feel very blessed to be still alive and amazingly healthy,” he says. “Every new day is beautiful.”
Someone else who knows the rollercoaster of treatment all too well is Annette. After multiple relapses and two stem cell transplants, she underwent immunotherapy to bring her Hodgkin’s lymphoma under control. “I responded well,” she says. “I’m now 7 months out of transplant and hoping and praying that this third time will cure the cancer or put me in long-term remission.” She supports CRI because she believes in the promise of less toxic, more effective treatments. “Anything immunotherapy can do to reduce the toxicity of treatment has my vote.”
Honoring Family and Fueling the Future
For Arthur Michell, supporting CRI is about honoring the past and shaping the future. “My immediate family—Mom, Dad, brother—and my first wife all died from cancer,” he shared. “There’s a probability they might have survived longer with current treatments. I do what I can to support organizations like CRI. They are the hope for erasing this disease or at least alleviating some of its catastrophic impact.” Arthur and his second wife are both cancer survivors—11 years for her, 30 for him—which makes their commitment to CRI’s mission even more personal.
Others donate in memory. One anonymous donor told us, “I give to stop cancers with research efforts and to honor family members who died from the disease.” And while they asked not to be named, they closed with a message for CRI: “Keep up the good work.”
Jordan Bergtraum sees a future where cancer may not even begin. “To me, #Immune2Cancer means a world where we have the technology to prevent people from getting cancer in the first place,” he says. “A vaccine that allows the immune system to identify all cancer cells in their single-cell state and lyse them before they are remotely harmful to our health.”
Supporting the Science: From Advocacy to Accountability
Some donors, like Donna Kaye, support the science because it matters to society. “I think it is vitally important that we continue with cancer research,” she shared. “I have not had cancer, but of course I have friends and family who have. I pray I never do.”
Then there’s Bruno Segovia, who found his way to CRI through a bet with a friend. “I made a deal that if I missed a deadline, I’d donate to a charity of his choice,” he said. “I missed the deadline. Evan picked CRI. And I’m glad he did.”
For Brigitte Mor, CRI’s Director of Individual Giving and Events, these voices are the heartbeat of the mission. “Every donation we receive tells a story— some are of courage, many are of loss, and others are stories of resilience,” she says. “Our donors aren’t just supporting research. They’re part of a movement that’s building a world where cancer doesn’t define lives— or limit their potential.”
This Cancer Immunotherapy Month, we honor the survivors, supporters, scientists, and loved ones who believe in that future—and back it with action.
Whether you give in hope, in memory, in gratitude, or even a lost bet— you’re part of something bigger: a global community committed to changing the story of cancer.
Every gift brings us closer to a world immune to cancer. Make yours today.
