Purduettes join Purdue Cancer Center for third annual fund-raiser

A welcoming reception will start at 7 p.m., followed by desserts, entertainment and information about cancer treatment and prevention. The event will be at the Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle.

Purdue Provost Sally Mason will make opening remarks, and Angela Buchman, a 1996 Purdue graduate who is now a meteorologist on WISH-TV in Indianapolis, will again be the master of ceremonies. The Purdue Cancer Center and Purdue Musical Organizations are sponsoring the event.

"The community has rallied behind this cause and shown us that these yearly concerts are worthwhile," said Purduettes co-director Julie Ricciardi. "Our goal is to educate as many women on campus and at the same time share resources for help."

Julie Nagel, managing director of Discovery Park's Oncological Science Center, will speak about cancer solutions at Purdue.

"The Purdue Cancer Center has greatly benefited from the creation of Discovery Park," Nagel said. "From development of nanosensors for the detection of cancer biomarkers in a drop of blood to the exploitation of the vitamin folic acid for early detection of cancer, Purdue is a leader in finding cancer solutions."

Also speaking at the event will be Purduette member Karin Brown, a sophomore in hospitality, tourism and management from Beavercreek, Ohio. Brown, 19, will talk about how cancer affected her family when her older sister Kristin was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was just 22 years old.

"This was a shock to my family because we didn't know anything about thyroid cancer," Brown said. "Although it was my sister who faced the physical fight, it proved to be an emotional struggle for all of us."

Brown's father is Purdue alumnus Col. Mark Neil Brown. He received his bachelor's degree in astronautical engineering from Purdue in 1973 and went on to train as an astronaut for NASA. Her mother, Lynne, and sister also graduated from Purdue.

The Purduettes created the event in 2004 because many of their members have been affected by cancer, Ricciardi said. They combined their love of music with their desire to make a difference in cancer research and planned the proposed benefit concert. 

"The young women of the Purduettes have rallied behind this cause and have done an outstanding job detailing the mission of each event just as the first concert's objectives, which are education, action and collaboration," Ricciardi said.

A tax-deductible gift of $30 per person is requested to attend the concert, and cocktail attire is requested. There will be complimentary valet parking and a cash bar.

All proceeds will go toward an endowed scholarship that will alternate every year between a PMO student and a student doing research at the Purdue Cancer Center.

Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu

Source: Julie Ricciardi, (765) 494-3947, jericciardi@purdue.edu

Julie Nagel, (765) 496-9311, jrnagel@purdue.edu

Gwyn Zawisza, PMO contact, (765) 496-0091, gzawisza@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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