Local Nonprofit Commits $250,000 to St. Elizabeth Cancer Center
Gift Will Support Gynecologic Oncology
A nonprofit dedicated to ovarian cancer awareness and research has committed $250,000 to the St. Elizabeth Cancer Center opening this October. Teal We Find a Cure, Inc., established to honor the life of ovarian cancer advocate Tracy Madrick Keith, made an initial donation of $30,000 to the Center following their annual fundraising event in 2019. The organization has since pledged an additional $220,000. Its generosity will be recognized with the naming of the facility's gynecologic oncology area in Tracy's honor. The 5,400-square-foot space within the Cancer Center will be dedicated to the expert care of women with ovarian, uterine, cervical and other gynecologic cancers.
Following an unexpected diagnosis of stage IV ovarian cancer in 2014, Tracy, a 49-year-old mother of three, became passionate about using her experience to prevent others' suffering. A doctor of physiology and researcher in women's heart health, she was uniquely attuned to and inquisitive about the scientific intricacies of the disease.
"Instead of running away from ovarian cancer, she jumped in and learned as much as she could," says Tracy's husband, Tony Keith. "From volunteering locally to advocating for funding on the national level, she was steadfast in her determination to enhance early detection and accelerate research. When she passed in 2017, we didn't want to lose the momentum she had created. Teal We Find a Cure is our way of continuing Tracy's legacy, advancing research and awareness, and inspiring others to live as generously and purposefully as she did." The nonprofit was started by family, friends and volunteers from Tracy and Tony's Union, Kentucky, neighborhood.
The gynecologic oncology area will not only bear Tracy's name, but will incorporate the color teal—a calming, tranquil and sophisticated hue that also represents ovarian cancer awareness and inspired the name of the nonprofit founded in her honor. Integrating the skills and expertise of many different disciplines, the Center will provide high-quality personalized care to women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer. Patients will have access to gynecologic oncologists specializing in minimally invasive procedures that more precisely target cancer while sparing healthy tissue, with a focus on preserving childbearing ability and women's sexual function as they cope with cancer. These providers will work closely with experts in radiation, medical oncology, pathology, genetic counseling and integrative medicine to develop the most effective treatment plan for each woman in their care.
"Gynecologic cancer affects approximately 1 in 20 women," says Carri Chandler, vice president of St. Elizabeth Foundation. "We are deeply grateful and honored to partner with Teal We Find a Cure to carry on Tracy's legacy, helping to change the trajectory of cancer in our region for generations to come."
To continue raising funds toward its St. Elizabeth Cancer Center pledge, Teal We Find a Cure has moved its annual fundraiser online this year due to COVID-19. For each $50 donation made before Sept. 30 at 5 p.m., the donor's name will be entered into a raffle drawing for a variety of fun prizes, ranging from gift cards to event tickets to original artwork by local abstract artist Lisa Schuster. For more information or to support this year's event, visit tealwefindacure.org.
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