Community Comes Together to Raise Funds, Awareness

More than 150 community members recently participated in the 15th annual Fundraiser to Fight Kidney Cancer at the Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton. More than $15,000 was raised to support kidney cancer research and kidney cancer patient services, including a support group, both at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.

The event, which included an afternoon golf tournament and a Cinco de Mayo themed casino night dinner, was the foundations largest to date.

Gayle Estrella, widow of the late John Estrella, opened the evening with welcoming remarks, followed by a presentation by Kim Costello, a longtime foundation supporter and kidney cancer survivor. Throughout the evening, participants enjoyed a silent auction, raffle, “funny money” for gambling at the roulette, craps, and blackjack tables, and live music. Additionally, a bottle of wine was awarded to one person from each table whose birthday was closest to June 6, John Estrella’s birthday.

The John Estrella Foundation for Cancer Research is a 100% volunteer run organization founded in 2004 in memory of John Estrella. Estrella, who was from Beverly, was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in 1998 and received treatment at the Mass General Cancer Center. During his battle with cancer, John participated in clinical trials knowing they would help others fighting the same disease. For the past 14 years, Estrella’s namesake foundation has kept his memory and community spirit alive by funding kidney cancer research at the Mass General Cancer Center. Projects supported by the foundation include a tumor tissue sample bank as well as research that identifies factors that can help predict which patients are likely to require additional therapies to treat their disease.

To learn more about the foundation and event, please visit https://birdeasepro.com/Fightkidneycancer.