Cancer center gets a boost

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 | 11:15 a.m.

The push for a dedicated cancer treatment and research center in Nevada moved closer to reality Thursday with a sold-out fund-raiser at The Mirage, as more than 600 people bid lavishly on auction items, sang along with the Eagles and pledged support for the $50 million capital campaign.

Proceeds from the second annual "Rock for the Cure" concert and auction -- held in the Siegfried & Roy Theatre -- will go to the planned Nevada Cancer Institute, a nonprofit outpatient center which organizers hope to open at Town Center Drive and the Las Vegas Beltway by 2005. The land has been donated by the Howard Hughes Corp.

"Every time our community grows the need for this type of facility grows along with it," said Heather Murren, the institute's president, whose husband, James, is president, chief financial officer and treasurer of MGM MIRAGE. "So many people moving here are over 65, when the risk of developing cancer is much greater. The newer population will need it even more than the existing population."

The institute's founders expect that the clinical research arm of the institute -- which will be headed by Yale University oncologist Dr. John Murren, James' older brother -- to lead to a biomedical research industry that would help diversify Southern Nevada's economy.

As of Nov. 1 more than $22 million had been raised for the institute. Last night's event was expected to bring in several million more. Big-ticket auction items, including a Mercedes-Benz convertible, dinner and a private film screening at the MGM Grand's Mansion and a trip to Hawaii on a private jet, brought in more than $500,000. Organizers said this morning they expected the final tally from the event to be over $2.6 million, surpassing last year's total of $1.5 million.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Chairman Phil Satre, who along with his wife, Jennifer, co-chaired the event, said he wasn't convinced the institute could become a reality when the Murrens first approached him 18 months ago with their ideas.

"We were skeptical at first that they could create so much success so fast," Satre said, noting that his wife is a cancer survivor. "But we've been awed by the energy they've brought to this and the accomplishments they have made in bringing a world-class cancer cener to Nevada."

Sigfried Fischbacher, making his first appearance at the theater since the Oct. 3 show when Roy Horn was bitten by a tiger and seriously injured, said he asked his longtime stage partner Wednesday whether he should attend. Horn, who was transferred to UCLA Medical Center late last month, communicates with hand signals and gave his full support, Fischbacher said. Horn's recovery has been "a miracle," he said.

"We made a promise a year ago to be here ... (Horn) told me, of course you will go, we owe this to our friends," Fischbacher said, as applause rippled through the audience. "I assure you in a short time, even though I stand before you by myself, there will be Sigfried & Roy again."

Fischbacher told the audience he now believed Horn had suffered a series of "mini strokes," causing him to stumble on stage. Montecore, the 7-year-old white tiger, carried Horn to safety, Fischbacher said. Only a puncture mark marred Horn's neck when he was brought to University Medical Center, and it was only because the puncture was so close to the artery that Horn was so badly hurt, Fischbacher said.

"The teeth of the tiger are six inches long, like ice picks," Fischbacher said. "(The tiger) carried Roy so carefully. Now, that was a miracle." Returning to the theater was difficult, Fischbacher later told the Sun, but it helped to focus on the memories of 14 happy years rather than the last peformance.

"I'm surprised how well I am handling it," Fischbacher said. "It was the right thing to do and Roy wanted it very badly."

While dozens of guests made their way to Fischbacher's table to pay their respects, George Foreman and event Master of Ceremonies Larry King were also kept busy shaking hands and chatting. A day with the boxing champion, including ringside seats to an upcoming fight and two of his namesake tabletop grills, went for a top auction bid of $55,000.

"With the high cancer rates here, Nevada really needs this center," King said. "I'm proud to do this event."

In addition to providing treatment and prevention options that are not already being offered by local hospitals, the institute is expected to have research facilities for the University of Nevada School of Medicine. "It's an important partnership opportunity," said John Lilley, president of the University of Nevada, Reno, who attended the event. "All of our faculty and students will have the cancer center as a resource."

Major contributors of funds and in-kind donations are: