I am honored and excited to inform you of an upcoming annual event to support cancer genetics research at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Dr. Susanne Gollin, a Highland Park resident, is a cancer genetics researcher and professor at Pitt. Susanne and her husband, Lazar Palnick, hold an annual event, *Spring Fling to Combat Cancer*, which helps fund the Joan Gollin Gaines Cancer Research Fund at Pitt (*see event details below*). Both Susanne and her sister, Joan, are cancer survivors. Joan's son, Austin, started the ‘Joanie’ fund at the University of Pittsburgh with the guidance of his aunt, Susanne, and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Founding Director, Ronald B. Herberman, M.D.. To date, this event and other efforts have contributed over $200,000 directly to Pitt without administrative cost deductions or political interference. *Please consider attending this important event or, if you are not able to attend, consider contributing to the fund to advance the school's efforts in combating a disease that has touched so many of us.* [image: Inline image 2] *5th Spring Fling to Combat Cancer* When: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 from 5:30 - 8 PM Where: The Rivers Club in Pittsburgh Guests will be treated to a spectacular evening featuring an hors d’oerves and cocktail reception, a fabulous silent auction, and special guest speakers. Dr. Susanne Gollin and Lazar Palnick will be your hosts and you will have an opportunity to meet several special guest speakers, including Dr. Dietrich Stephan, who is the Chairman of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Human Genetics and inspirational Physician-Scientist Dr. Kurt Weiss who is a bone cancer survivor, an Orthopedic Surgeon and a Musculoskeletal Oncologist. Many of Pittsburgh’s most interesting community, educational, research, philanthropic, business, and political leaders will attend. For more information, please visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/joangollingainescancerresearchfundatpitt/ <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjoangollingainescancerresearchfundatpitt%2F&data=01%7C01%7Cgollin%40pitt.edu%7C5923a7f39b2b44fe67f908d47a08de61%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1&sdata=sb8w3dZH2ufLbr3KLUL3nz3ZkZOsQjdo%2FG9FZopj3oU%3D&reserved=0> You can reserve your spot before April 11 by clicking on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-spring-fling-to-combat-canc er-tickets-32476651539 <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2F5th-spring-fling-to-combat-cancer-tickets-32476651539&data=01%7C01%7Cgollin%40pitt.edu%7C58481b1969084281c85d08d465891a8c%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1&sdata=BR%2BngxDWsPApBWAgSPOwP7GIIK37g0mkCmYLJUqZOsQ%3D&reserved=0> If you would like to attend and wish to register via mail or email, please contact me at 312-543-8882 or Susanne at 412-996-7223 and we can send you the forms. You can also email us at joangollingainesfundpitt@gmail.com. If you have an interest in sponsoring this event, you can view sponsorship opportunities and register your contribution through the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6-O5A9Dv8LsMG 9xRE5ncmhLOVU/view?usp=sharing <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Ffile%2Fd%2F0B6-O5A9Dv8LsMG9xRE5ncmhLOVU%2Fview%3Fusp%3Dsharing&data=01%7C01%7Cgollin%40pitt.edu%7C58481b1969084281c85d08d465891a8c%7C9ef9f489e0a04eeb87cc3a526112fd0d%7C1&sdata=3kBCV9PHZw1r7IuVygn9w45VXvE9YC3hqN4DpVGl4l8%3D&reserved=0> Please feel free to share this invitation with those who might be interested in attending and/or supporting cancer research. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We look forward to seeing you on April 18! Melissa Stephanou