About ten years ago, a Granby man realized that the word “BUT” was very important to a cause about which he felt deeply. Only two or three decades ago, the word “BUT” was usually not part of a conversation between doctors and their cancer patients. Once the patient was diagnosed with cancer there were few effective treatments that gave patients hope.
These days, often, when difficult doctor-patient conversations take place, the doctor is able to say, “You have cancer…BUT…there are several ways to treat this, and many ways for the treatments to be successful.” Cancer research has come a long way, and some cancers are now treated and successfully beaten.
Bob D’Angelo, a Granby resident for over 20 years, was moved by the progress being made in the fight against cancer. Since he knew many people who were stricken with the disease, he wanted to do something to support the fight. Although he wasn’t exactly sure how to go about making a difference, he took some bold steps and got started on what has now become a tremendously successful fundraising campaign, right here in our community and our state.
D’Angelo’s past professional life included experience in sports, teaching, coaching, corporate planning and networking. With those assets in his toolkit, and with a positive attitude, D’Angelo decided to start small, and build momentum with one goal in mind: Keep fighting until cancer is gone from our landscape entirely. His first effort was to hold a modest fundraising dinner and, with the help of Trinity College, networking contacts and a ton of personal elbow grease and enthusiasm, he made it happen. The first event, held 10 years ago at Trinity College, attracted about 150 people and raised a modest five thousand dollars, all of which was donated to cancer research.
D’Angelo connected with the Jimmy V Foundation and for the last 10 years has organized numerous local fundraising efforts, culminating in a large annual event to promote cancer research. From the humble first effort, D’Angelo has formed a coalition of local and national contacts, invited top level speakers, and gained the participation of businesses and prominent citizens in Connecticut and nationwide.
His grass-roots approach to fighting cancer has resulted in donations of over $250,000 for cancer research. D’Angelo is quick to note that every dollar of his fundraising efforts go directly to the cause. His local non-profit organization is staffed with volunteers, and the Jimmy V Foundation is endowed in such a way that all administrative costs are funded, allowing 100 percent of donations to go directly to cancer research.
The Foundation has raised over $353 million dollars for cancer research since it was formed in 1994 as a legacy to Jim Valvano, the legendary college basketball coach who was stricken with cancer. Before he passed, Valvano formed the foundation, which goes on today.
Right now, D’Angelo is planning this year’s event, which will be held at the Aqua-Turf in Southington on April 30. He is hoping for attendance to top 400 and invites all those interested in supporting this event to contact him for further information, via email at bobjdangelo@gmail.com or phone at 860-573-1150.
It’s a credit to his tenacity, enthusiasm and passion that these events have been held for 10 consecutive years and have grown each year. But even though research continues, D’Angelo knows there is much to be accomplished and more funds need to be raised. When asked how long he thought he would continue his efforts in this cause, he said, “I’d like to not have to do this, but until cancer is defeated, I will keep going.” Thanks to Bob D’Angelo, and others like him, the fight continues.