Two days, three gatherings — hundreds of summer sojourners were eagerly swept up in the M.D. Anderson embrace as the cancer hospital took its Making Cancer History message to the Rocky Mountain nirvana of Aspen.
The soft sell began with the annual Making Cancer History seminar at Paepcke Auditorium at Aspen Meadows, where 250 interested parties turned out to hear the latest on cancer research. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center president Dr. Ron DePinho was joined in the afternoon program by Dr. Anil Sood, Dr. Sam Hanash, Professor Timothy Thompson and James Allison, Ph.D. chair of Immunology. Joining them on stage during the 45-minute Q&A was Dr. Lynda Chin, professor and chair of Genomic Medicine.
That evening 100 guests mingled at the popular Casa Tua restaurant/club for a shopping party featuring an informal showing of fashions from The Gallerie Aspen, which donated a portion of sales to Anderson. Plenty of gents participated as Board of Visitors member Peggy Sewell of Dallas introduced DePinho and his fellow presenters from the afternoon's program.
Highlight of the Anderson Aspen jaunt each year is the al fresco cocktail reception hosted by Barbara and Gerry Hines at their Roaring Fork riverfront home in the heart of Aspen. More than 250 cancer center friends and supporters joined the festive evening that celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Aspen seminar. While guests socialized beneath a white party tent, they bid on a large painting by Barbara Hines that she donated to the cancer center. Denise Montelone was the high bidder.
In a nod to the cancer center's relationship with the University of Texas, the UT System Board of Regents chairman Gene Powell and wife Dana were in the mix as was UT System Regent Alex Cranburg with Cathy Neville.
Among the participants in the various activities were Estela and David Cockrell, Laura and Andrew McCullough, Amy Pierce, Michael Landrum, George Lancaster, Ericka Bagwell, Fred Malek, Jenee and Bill Bobbora, Fred Bush and Dr. Patricia Hill.
Gerry and Barbara Hines, from left, Drs. Lynda Chin and Ron DePinho at the M.D. Anderson reception in Aspen.
