Rocky Mountain Hold Em Benefit Supports Dani’s Foundation Pediatric Sarcoma Research Effort

The first annual Rocky Mountain Hold ‘Em to Help ‘Em Challenge will take place on Tuesday, September 11 at the National Western Stock Show Arena in Denver, CO.  The event, presented by the Newmont Mining Corporation, is a benefit Dani’s Foundation and their effort to fund event greater pediatric sarcoma research with the intent of finding the cause and the cure for those rare forms of cancer that continue to affect and take the lives of children and young adults.

Held in association with the annual Denver Gold Forum (September 9 – 12), the event is an evening of western hospitality for Denver Gold Forum attendees, national and international mining and investment leaders and supporters of Dani’s Foundation.  400 guests are expected to attend the festivities that will commence at 6:00 p.m. and will run until midnight.  Included in the evening’s festivities are a cocktail buffet, live entertainment by Denver’s-Own Lannie Garrett, a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Challenge Tournament, other gaming opportunities for those less serious about their charitable gaming, a western photo booth and more!  The evening is sure to showcase the best in Denver’s western hospitality for all who attend.

Joining the Newmont Mining Corporation in sponsoring this year’s Rocky Mountain Hold ‘Em to Help ‘Em Challenge are Platinum Sponsors Agnico Eagle Mines LTD and  BMO Capital Markets; Gold Sponsor RBC Capital Markets, Silver Sponsors Franco Nevada and Royal Gold Inc.; Bronze Sponsors Auramet Trading, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the Colorado Mining Association, the Electrum Group of Companies, and MiNE LLC;  and Supporting Sponsor the Denver Gold Group.  Sponsorship levels for the Rocky Mountain Hold ‘Em to Help ‘Em Challenge range from $25,000 to $5,000 and sponsorship information may be obtained by contacting Dani’s Foundation (303.601.1881 or email to martha@danisfoundation.org).

Tickets to the September 11 Rocky Mountain Hold ‘Em to Help ‘Em Challenge are $500/person and include all food and beverage for the evening, entertainment and gaming chips for the Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament or open play gaming.  Due to the nature of the event; a benefit for Dani’s Foundation, no cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of the gaming portion of the event.  All sponsorships, ticket sales and donations made for the event will benefit Dani’s Foundation and their 2012/2013 pediatric sarcoma research effort.

For additional information on the September 11 Rocky Mountain Hold ‘Em to Help ‘Em Challenge, visit the event website at www.rockymountainholdem.com or contact Martha Simmons at Dani’s Foundation for details.

About the Rocky Mountain Hold ‘Em to ‘Help Em Challenge

 

The Rocky Mountain Hold ‘Em to Help ‘ Em Challenge is an evening of Western hospitality including lively libations, gourmet grub, gaming and entertainment presented by the Newmont Mining Corporation.

This very special event will offer an unparalleled networking opportunity for participants; bringing together Mining Industry executives and Financial Advisors for an evening of friendly competition and camaraderie.

Thanks to the generosity of the Newmont Mining Corporation, our event sponsors and donors, and the guests at this year’s event; the Rocky Mountain Hold ’Em to Help ‘Em Challenge is anticipated to raise over $250,000 for pediatric cancer research.

Working in association with Dani’s Foundation and their scientific researchers, funds from this year’s event will support that science that is being conducted to find better treatment protocols for all pediatric cancers and ultimately the cause and the cure for pediatric sarcomas; those rare forms of cancer that continue to affect and take the lives of children and young adults.

Similar events, staged by asset management groups, mining and the real estate industries have raised over $15 million for various global health issues.

 Did You Know? 

• Cancer is the NUMBER ONE cause of death by disease in children, cutting short the lives of more children under the age of 20 than any other disease.
• Cancer kills more children per year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined.
• TWENTY PERCENT of children who are diagnosed with cancer will die.
• SIXTY PERCENT of children who survive cancer suffer from long-term side effects.
• The average age of a child diagnosed with cancer is just SIX years old.
• Every school day, nearly 50 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. More than 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year and over 40,000 children and adolescents currently are being treated for cancer.
• Every year, over 40,000 children are diagnosed with sarcoma around the world.
• Many of the principle of therapy used in treating adults with cancer were first tested and developed at the pediatric level.
• Cancer drugs used on children today are cancer drugs that were developed for adults 30 or 40 years ago.
• Despite this data, childhood cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded.
• Last year, The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) federal budget was $4.6 billion. Of that, breast cancer received 12%, prostate cancer received 7%, and all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers combined received less than 3%. Across all age groups and 50 subtypes of cancer, sarcoma received less than 1% of research allocation.

About Dani’s Foundation

Dani’s Foundation was formed in memory of Dani Stell, an active, bright and social young woman who loved fashion, dancing, school and friends. She aspired to become a fashion designer. Dani was 18 years old when she found a lump on her side. After six months, she was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that typically affects children and young adults.

By the time of Dani’s diagnosis, the cancer had spread to her lungs. Although she showed no outward symptoms other than the lump on her side, Dani was in critical condition at the time of her diagnosis. She was hospitalized immediately and began an aggressive schedule of treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and a bone marrow transplant. Dani was cancer-free for four months when doctors discovered the disease had returned, this time in her brain.

Dani did not fulfill her dream to become a fashion designer. In April 1999, Dani lost her battle with cancer. She was 19 years old.

Since its inception, Dani’s Foundation has supported pediatric sarcoma programs and research throughout the nation. Most notably, the Foundation has lent financial support to the research efforts of Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. The Foundation provided pilot funding to initiate and extend his research into a novel treatment for Ewing’s Sarcoma. Thanks to the funding obtained from Dani’s Foundation and other organizations, Dr. Toretsky is now months away from taking his science from the bench into human clinical trials.

Dani’s Foundation is currently working to seek out the work of other scientific investigators who are researching better treatment protocols for all pediatric cancer patients and soliciting grant requests from scientists around the globe who are conducting science that is aimed at finding the cause and the cure for pediatric sarcomas.

Thanks to your support of the Newmont Mining Corporation’s Rocky Mountain Hold ‘Em to Help ‘Em Challenge, Dani’s Foundation will be able to offer new pediatric sarcoma research grant awards in FY 2013 with the intent of taking the steps necessary to put an end to these dreadful forms of cancer that continue to affect and take the lives of children and young adults.