LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2010 — The fourth annual Racing for Hope benefit will be held at the historic Santa Anita Race Track on Sunday, March 21, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Founded in 2007 by Marc and Renee Paul, Racing for Hope has raised over $400,000 for cancer research, treatment and education at City of Hope. This year the proceeds will be donated to City of Hope’s Be The Match Registry, a program that helps patients who are battling cancers like leukemia and lymphoma find matching bone marrow donors for their lifesaving bone marrow transplant treatment. With award-winning KTLA entertainment news reporter Sam Rubin as emcee, Racing for Hope will feature a lavish luncheon and a silent auction at Frontrunner Restaurant overlooking Santa Anita Park & Race Track.
Each year, thousands of patients who are diagnosed with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases require a bone marrow transplant. Patients who cannot find a suitable match within their family rely on Be The Match Registry to find a match and save their lives. There are more than 6 million registered donors, with almost 50 percent of registrants representing a match for a patient searching for an unrelated donor match.
Founders and longtime City of Hope supporters Renee and Marc Paul have a personal connection to cancer. In 2004, Renee Paul was diagnosed with breast cancer and the experience gave the couple the desire to help others battling disease.
“Renee and I are proud to support an organization with a history as a pioneer and leader in innovative cancer research and treatments,” said Marc Paul, Racing for Hope founder, Los Angeles real estate developer and thoroughbred horse breeder. “Since Renee’s battle with breast cancer, we are devoted to helping others. By supporting Be The Match Registry this year, we hope to rapidly increase the number of new donors so that patients with leukemia and lymphoma can quickly find matches for their lifesaving bone marrow transplants.”
“We’re grateful for the longtime support from the Pauls and Racing for Hope,” said Emily Sheridan, director of development at City of Hope. “This event is a unique occasion where horse-racing fans and enthusiasts join together in the fight against cancer through innovative science and advanced new therapies at City of Hope.”
Santa Anita Park & Race Track is located at 285 West Huntington Drive in Arcadia, Calif. To purchase tickets for Racing Hope, contact Emily Sheridan at 800-272-2310 or esheridan@coh.org. For more information, visit www.racingforhope.com.
