The Foundation has also launched an online auction through BidPal as a complement to this year’s Gala fundraising efforts. There are fantastic items ranging from luxury vacations, designer jewelry, superb vintage wine lots, embassy dinners with traditional fare and entertainment, premiere golf outings and other unique experiences. Bid today for a chance to win:

• A seven day Mediterranean vacation in a gorgeous three-bedroom, two-bath gated villa located in beautiful St. Remy de Provence, France. Discover this unspoiled, tucked away gem—St. Remy is a magical town with fantastic restaurants, antique stores, sporting activities and weekly food and antique markets.
• A wine lot featuring the superior 2000 Bordeaux vintage, described as deep, ripe, rich, concentrated, flamboyant and expressive by wine connoisseurs.
• A wellness weekend getaway to the world class, 5-star Wentworth Mansion nestled directly in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Voted top city in the world by Conde Nast Traveler, Charleston is the perfect destination for a relaxing and restorative getaway.
• A slot in the famed Waterfall Fishing Tournament in Prince of Wales Island, Alaska; considered one of the best fishing grounds in the world.

This year the Foundation Gala honors Italian culture with its theme “la Festa della Donna,” a popular festival in Italy that recognizes the achievements of women. Honorary Patrons, His Excellency Claudio Bisogniero, the Ambassador of Italy and Mrs. Laura Denise Bisogniero will welcome nearly 800 guests, including distinguished notables from the corporate, political, medical and diplomatic communities. David Tutera, Foundation board member, celebrity party planner and host of WEtv’s “My Fair Wedding” will once again work his magic to transform the Museum into a breathtaking celebration of our host country Italy. He is also inviting his Facebook fans to participate in a Facebook contest to benefit the Foundation, where he will give three lucky winners a signed copy of his book, “The Big White Book of Weddings.”

We hope you will join us for this very special occasion that inspires us all to Stop Cancer Before it Starts! For more information on tickets and the online auction please visit the 2013 Prevent Cancer Foundation Gala website.

Join me at the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Annual Spring Gala on Friday, March 9 at the National Building Museum in downtown DC for an evening filled with fun for a good cause. This year the Foundation honors Switzerland with its theme “Modern + Majestic = Switzerland.” Nearly 800 people are expected to attend; don’t miss your chance to experience this special night!

The evening’s event décor is provided by Celebrity Party Planner and “My Fair Wedding” host David Tutera, who is encouraging his Facebook fans to give to the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s gala. Each fan that makes a donation of $5 or more will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 3 of David’s signature watches from MZ Berger.  The winner will be announced on his Facebook page on March 13.

The Foundation has also launched an online auction through Bidding for Good as a complement to this year’s gala fundraising efforts. The site is live and open for bids! There are fantastic items ranging from vacations, designer jewelry, wine lots, embassy dinners, golf, tennis, and other unique experiences – some are open to all bidders and some are exclusive for bidding by gala attendees only.

Please spread the word among your friends and family about this special opportunity to help raise funds for cancer prevention and early detection!To learn more about the 2012 Spring Gala and the Prevention Cancer Foundation’s vision to Stop Cancer Before It Starts! visit our website.

The online auction will showcase 30 carefully selected and highly coveted items ranging from once- in- a- lifetime experiences to deluxe air travel. A sampling of some of the outstanding Gala Online Auction items include:

• A mixed case of California wines, all rated 100 by Robert Parker
• A coveted slot in the Waterfall Salmon Fishing Tournament on a private island in Alaska
• A week’s stay in a four-bedroom apartment in Venice, Italy
• A week’s stay aboard a 51-foot, private sailing yacht with 5 staterooms in the British Virgin Islands
• Business class travel to Zurich, Switzerland for two and a 3-night stay at the Park Hyatt Zurich
• Four nights’ accommodation in a suite in the Hempel, a leading boutique hotel in London
• Exquisite and unique pieces of  jewelry, designed by Elizabeth Locke and Joan Horning
• A week’s stay (winter or summer) in a private home in Sun Valley (ID)
• 2 VIP tickets to a taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The online auction will also contain items exclusive for bidding only by 2012 Gala attendees, such as:

• Use of personal vacation homes in the Vail Valley (CO) and Cape May (NJ)
• Rounds of golf for 3 with your host at 5 private clubs in the Washington, DC area
• A lunch hosted by a prominent U.S. Senator in the Senate Dining Room
• A “power lunch” at the residence of the Ambassador of Lichtenstein
• Private dinners hosted by the Ambassadors of Switzerland and Indonesia in their residences.

We do hope you are able to attend the Annual Spring Gala on March 9, enjoy an unforgettable evening and bid on these remarkable items so generously donated to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!  For tickets or more information contact Development Associate Dorothy Abernathy at 703-837-3698 or via email at Dorothy.abernathy@preventcancer.org.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation held its 17th Annual Spring Gala at the National Building Museum on March 11, 2011. The Foundation welcomed 900 guests to the event, including many prominent members of the DC diplomatic, political, business and philanthropic communities. This year’s gala, “The Enchanting Principality of Monaco”, raised over $1.2 million dollars to further our mission: the prevention and early detection of cancer through scientific research, education and community outreach.

Eddy Estrada, Kim Estrada and David Tutera at the Spring Gala

Prevent Cancer Foundation board member, acclaimed wedding and event planner David Tutera designed the red and silver swathed event, which included 30,000 red roses, softly candlelit tables, cascading crystal centerpieces and intricate candelabra. He also brought special guests Kim Estrada, a breast cancer survivor, and her husband Eddy with him this year. The couple was invited to the Gala during their breast cancer awareness themed episode of Tutera’s show “My Fair Wedding”. Guests enjoyed a sumptuous three course meal, including a Veal Ravioli first course, a Beef Entrecôte main course and a beautifully arranged Chocolate Indulgence with Strawberry Sorbet for dessert.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui was honored as the Foundation’s 2011 Cancer Prevention Champion for her inspiration and leadership in founding the Foundation’s Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program. Matsui highlighted how important this bipartisan program is in efforts to raise awareness about cancer prevention and how instrumental Congressional spouses have been in sharing this vital information.

Madeleine Badia, Foreign Minister Jose Badia, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Brian Matsui, Ellen Noghès, Ambassador Gilles Noghès

Guests of Honor included the Hon. José Badia, Foreign Minister, representing H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco and Mrs. Madeleine Badia, H.E. Gilles Noghès, Ambassador of Monaco and Mrs. Ellen Noghès. Joyce Gates and Missy Edwards served as Gala co-chairs; Jeanne Wolak chaired the Dinner Committee.

“Good Morning America” Weather Anchor Sam Champion acted as Master of Ceremonies, introducing guest speaker Daniel Holt, a staff member in Rep. Jim McGovern’s office. Holt gave a moving speech recounting his own battle with melanoma, stressing the importance of prevention and early detection. Both Champion and Holt encouraged attendees to donate during the “Lighting the Way to Prevention” pledge drive, raising an additional $44,000. “Lighting the Way to Prevention” refers to the flashing lanyards each donor received after making a contribution.

Long recognized as one of Washington D.C.’s most anticipated annual events, the Prevent Cancer Foundation hosted its first gala in 1994 with Former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush serving as its Co-Chairs. The Prevent Cancer Annual Spring Gala salutes a different country each year and has been named one of the top ten Washington, D.C. benefits by BizBash magazine.

My husband and I have spent the past 17 years in diplomatic postings and enjoyed traveling to all seven continents. Without a doubt, the most foreign and absolutely alien ground we have stood on is where we were each time I was told I had cancer. No matter where you live, a cancer diagnosis thrusts you into another world where suddenly nothing is familiar and the way ahead, unknown.  No matter what language you speak, a diagnosis of cancer leaves you speechless.

In 2004, when our husbands were serving as Ambassadors to the U.N., a close friend and I discovered that, three years earlier, we had both been undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer in Paris at the same time. Although we would see each other at diplomatic functions, we never spoke of what we were going through and totally missed the opportunity to find strength and comfort in a shared experience. Realizing the important moral to our story, we co-hosted a “Pink Party” in New York for the wives of 75 ambassadors to share our message:  talk more, open up, reach out and, in doing so, make a diagnosis of cancer a little easier to hear in any language or in every language. We were greatly honored that Prince Albert II of Monaco (who happened to be in town) graced our event, and the cause, with his presence. He even sported a pink tie to underscore his support.

Since then, I continue to advocate for more openness, discussion and sharing. Within the diplomatic community, I recognize a special need. In the past year, no less than three other wives of ambassadors have dealt with breast cancer, far from their home countries, and more importantly, far from their network of family and friends. We have formed our own small and intimate support group where fears and concerns can be expressed, great strength is found in friendship, and life is celebrated.

I congratulate the Prevent Cancer Foundation on the occasion of their Silver Jubilee and offer my heartfelt gratitude for all they have done throughout the past 25 years to promote cancer prevention and early detection.

Editor’s Note: Ellen Noghès is the wife of H.E. Gilles Noghès, Ambassador of Monaco. She is a philanthropist, cancer survivor and prevention advocate.