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Miles for Moffitt Board of Directors Present $100,000 to Moffitt Cancer Center Researchers

March 16, 2009

Tampa, FL —The Miles for Moffitt Board of Directors presented $100,000 to four cancer researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center to support their work toward the prevention and cure of cancer. The amount brings to $230,000 the total raised by the Miles for Moffitt event since its founding in 2006.

The $100,000 Milestone Award for Research came from proceeds of the 2008 Miles for Moffitt event held on the campus of the University of South Florida. The award will be shared equally among the following Moffitt Cancer Center researchers:

David Shibata, M.D., section head of the colorectal oncology program
Dana Rollison, Ph.D., scientific director of Cancer Registry
Vani Simmons, Ph.D., assistant professor, tobacco research and intervention
Nupam Mahajan, Ph.D., assistant professor in areas of drug discovery and therapeutic strategies for advanced prostate and breast cancer.

Karen Dalton, founder and chairwoman of the annual event, and Priscilla Mack, race sponsorship chairwoman, presented the award at Moffitt’s 2008 Scientific Retreat on March 6 at the Alfano Conference Center near USF.

“It is exciting to watch the race grow from 1,200 participants the first year to over 3,000 in 2008, each year bringing an increase in the funds raised for the Miles for Moffitt Milestone Award for Research,” said Dalton, wife of Moffitt CEO William S. Dalton, who joined the presentation along with Jack Pledger, Ph.D., deputy center director and executive vice president/associate center director for basic science at Moffitt.

Because the race is underwritten by sponsors, all proceeds from entry fees directly benefit Moffitt’s cancer research programs. “Presenting this check is the most gratifying part of Miles for Moffitt,” Mack said. “Supporting these young researchers and the many individuals who have experienced cancer is what this race is all about.”

The 2009 Florida Bank Miles for Moffitt is being held May 9 starting at the USF Sun Dome. To register, visit www.milesformoffitt.com or call (813) 745-2006.

Sponsors include Florida Bank, title sponsor; Tampa Bay Rays and Rays Wives, presenting sponsors; Gerdau Ameristeel; Cancer Survivor Tribute sponsor, and Gold Sponsors − University of South Florida, Embassy Suites, 21st Century Oncology, News Channel 8, The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com, WQYK and Tampa Bay’s Q105.

Photo Caption: From left, Lynn Gray, Miles for Moffitt board member; Dr. David Shibata; Dr. Dana Rollison; Dr. Vani Simmons; Karen Dalton, Miles for Moffitt founder; Dr. Nupam Mahajan; and Priscilla Mack, Miles for Moffitt board member.

About H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is the only Florida-based cancer center with the NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center for its excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

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