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Tournament raises money
for research
By Luis Jiménez
Summer
Reporter
A couple from Brownsburg, Ind. is organizing a
golf tournament to raise money for cancer research at Purdue.
Rick and Moni Fiscus lost their 10-year-old shepherd
dog, Bandit, on Feb. 19, when he lost the battle against cancer. He
was referred to a veterinary oncology specialist at Purdue in January,
where he was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma, a common type of cancer in
dogs. Despite extensive treatment, he later died because the disease
had progressed too far.
"It was such a heartbreaking loss because Bandit
was such a wonderful companion, but also an education for Moni and I
because we had no idea how prevalent cancers are in dogs," Rick Fiscus
said in a university press release last week. "We wanted to find a way
to not only keep Bandit's memory alive, but to also contribute to the
oncology research being done at Purdue."
The benefit golf tournament, dubbed The Bandit
Legacy Invitational, will tee off at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, at the course
Rick Fiscus works as superintendent of the West-Chase Golf Club in Brownsburg,
Ind.
All proceeds will go to the Purdue Comparative
Oncology Program.
Kevin Doerr, director of Development and Alumni
Relations of the School of Veterinary Medicine, explained that the program
provides care for pets with cancer in a setting that supports the discovery
of new knowledge about potential cancer treatment for animals and humans.
Doerr said the school is appreciative toward the
Fiscus couple, because the tournament's proceeds will support a program
that needs additional funding.
"We think it's a wonderful idea and we deeply appreciate
their efforts to help us in that way," said Doerr. "We see that particular
event as something that helps to illustrate the bond between humans
and animals. (The tournament) was created as a tribute to their dog,
Bandit."
According to Doerr, the research related to the
comparative oncology program focuses on improving the outlook for both
pet animals and humans with cancer. Applying the knowledge about the
behavior of cancer, gathered from treating animals with the disease,
could ultimately help researchers develop cancer treatments for humans,
said Doerr. This can be done, as there are three forms of canine cancer
that have profound similarities with its human counterpart. These are
bone, bladder and prostate cancer.
Cancer is among the major causes of death in older
pets. Doerr said the center treats about 1,000 cases annually. He said
though the cost of treating an animal is high, it is vital for the goal
of the research, which needs patients to conduct research and create
knowledge on the treatment, early detection and prevention of cancer.
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CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111
ext. 253
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