The ballroom of the Hilton Americas-Houston resonated with hope Thursday in a poignant celebration of cancer survivors that segued into a nod to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's $1 billion "Making Cancer History" campaign.

Despite the note of optimism and the promise of a cure for cancer, tears flowed throughout the night as heartstrings were pulled again and again. Most touching of the evening was the presentation by eight M.D. Anderson patients who stood on eight miniature stages around the ballroom and one-by-one told their stories. Each concluded by striking through the word "cancer" on a screen behind him or her. Lymphoma survivor Barbara Padilla of America's Got Talent fame told her story from the main stage where she concluded by singing The Prayer. (She had already generated audience tears with Ave Maria.)

Adding to the moving tableau was former Miss America Phyllis George, who in her role as emcee tearfully shared the story of a close friend who died of cancer. M.D. Anderson president Dr. John Mendelsohn opened his remarks with a tribute to the late Bob Mosbacher, the only person to twice chair the cancer center's board of visitors. Mosbacher died of cancer last month.

Ward & Ames produced the evening that included performances by the Houston Five Tenors and the Celebration Orchestra. Bagpipers from the St. Thomas Episcopal School Pipe Band backed up the tenors' rendition of Amazing Grace. If tears didn't fall, then goosebumps were surely raised.

The program included comments from Board of Visitors president Nancy Loeffler and Harry Longwell, "Making Cancer History" campaign chair. The goal is to reach that astounding $1 billion figure by 2011, the cancer centers 70th anniversary. With fundraising ginning in this vein since 2005, the campaign to date has accumulated $760 million.

Among the 600 guests were Brenda Johnson, Judy and Rodney Margolis, Mike Bartolotta, Regina Rogers, Gita and Ali Saberioon, Liz and Tom Glanville, Pat and Dan Breen and Kathryn and Tom Wilson.