Sharon Klonowski with Betsy Kling

UH has now reached its fundraising goal to endow a Chair in Mary Ann Cross’s name in support of the Wesley Center for Immunotherapy at UH Seidman Cancer Center & Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute at Rainbow Babies & Children’s. This is thanks to the 288 guests who attended the final University Hospital’s “Cross out Cancer” benefit at the Shoreby Club in Bratenahl on September 10.
The crowd included many of the medical and research leaders from UH for an evening benefiting immunotherapy cancer care and research in memory of Mary Ann Cross.
Cross survived 23 years after chronic leukemia before she passed away six years ago. While living, she encouraged her family and friends to “turn grief into hope.” In the past five years since her death, a total of $1 million has been raised to treat people with cancer and blood disorders.
Linda Grdina Masten, Geoff Masten and Ryan Cross co-chaired the benefit; Char and Chuck Fowler served as Co-Chairs Emeritus. Betsy Kling, Chief Meteorologist of WKYC-TV served as emcee. Serpentini Auto Group was the presenting sponsor.
Kling spoke of her father being a three-time cancer survivor of colon, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and prostate cancer; she credits the UH Seidman Cancer Center for his survival. She asked for prayers and well wishes for WKYC colleague Jim Donovan, the “Voice of the Cleveland Browns,” who has undergone treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Guests enjoyed a stunning sunset while sipping cocktails and sampling exquisite wines on the shore of Lake Erie, followed by dinner and live musical entertainment by Trisha O’Brien Cole with songs at sunset and a stellar silent auction. The evening showcased cutting-edge immunotherapy clinical trials and celebrated the

Ernie and Patti Novak with Dr. Daniel Simon

pediatric, adolescent and adult patients benefiting from this life-saving care and research. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREA C. TURNER