Javier Colon to Headline Benefit for Cancer

Javier Colon, the 1995 Bunnell High School graduate who , will be headlining a gala on Oct. 29 to benefit next-generation treatments for multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.

Colon will join Michael McDonald and Darius Rucker in a tribute concert honoring Stevie Wonder at the 15th annual Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Fall Gala.

The MMRF will honor Stevie Wonder with the MMRF Spirit of Hope Award, presented annually to individuals who inspire hope with their perseverance in overcoming personal obstacles.

All funds raised at the event, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Old Greenwich, Conn., will go to multiple myeloma cancer research.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to participate with Michael McDonald and Darius Rucker in this tribute concert for Stevie Wonder,” Colon said in a statement. “The MMRF is one of the nation’s most groundbreaking cancer research organizations and I hope that our involvement will help find a cure for this rare cancer.”

Despite the advancements made by the MMRF, the five year survival rate for myeloma (38 percent) remains one of the lowest of all cancers. The funds raised by the MMRF are critical in continuing to advance research and the progress being made.

“We are so thankful to have Javier Colon, Michael McDonald and Darius Rucker joining us,” Kathy Giusti, founder and CEO of the MMRF and a myeloma patient, said in the statement. “The support of these talented musicians will help the MMRF continue our urgent work to bring patients new treatments.”

The MMRF Fall Gala is one of the largest fundraising events in Fairfield County. Attendees include celebrities, prominent business executives and high-impact philanthropists. To reserve a table, donate an auction item or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please email mmrf@benefitoffice.org or call 888.584.5463.

This year, more than 20,000 adults in the United States will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma and nearly 11,000 are predicted to die from the disease, according to the MMRF.

Click here to read more about the foundation, which has raised more than $170 million for multiple myeloma research since its inception in 1998.