Our Cause
In 2001 Richard Gonzmart established the Columbia Restaurant Endowment for research at Moffitt Cancer & Research Center. Using his passion for running, he created “Richard’s Run For Life,” a tax exempt charity dedicated to raising funds for cancer research and to raise awareness of what this research will mean to the future under the Gonzmart Family Foundation.
The Inspiration for Richard's Run
Richard’s motivation to fight this disease comes from friends and family who have been affected by cancer.
The Power of Research
Adolescent and Young Adult Research Initiative (AYA)
“Richard’s Run for Life” was officially dedicated to raise awareness for adolescent and young adult (AYA) osteosarcoma cancer and the Advanced Prostate Cancer Collaboration (APCC) at Moffitt. We are helping Moffitt find a cure, and to give hope to those fighting cancer.
- Osteosarcoma is the No. 2 cause of cancer in children.
- More than half the number of osteosarcomas diagnosed in the U.S. are found in children
Contributions to Moffitt's research program through Richard's Run For Life appear in issues of Moffitt Legacy
Summer 2005
See Page 5 to learn more about Amandalee Weiss.
Summer 2007
See Page 3 to learn more about Lynn Culbreath & Richard Gonzmart
Richard Gonzmart, founder of “Richard’s Run for Life” was particularly inspired by 8-year-old Josalyn Kaldenberg, who is the first pediatric cancer patient in the United States to have her entire upper arm bone replaced with one made of chrome and titanium. Moffitt Cancer Center surgeon Dr. Douglas Letson became the first American surgeon to remove an entire humerus in a child and insert an expandable prosthesis in its place. Before her parents brought her to Moffitt, other doctors recommended amputating her arm.
Artificial limb replacement is not an uncommon solution for bone cancer patients; it's been done in the United States for roughly 15 years. Also, most replacements involve tumors invading just 20 percent to 30 percent of the bone. In Josalyn's case, Letson replaced the entire humerus, as well as the elbow and shoulder joints in Josalyn's 48-pound body.
“AYA cancer patients are typically between the ages of 15-30 and don’t respond to the treatment traditionally used for fight sarcoma,” said Gonzmart. “I want to focus on raising money for this area of cancer research because pharmaceutical companies believe there‘s a "low return on investment” and that it is not worth it for them financially to invest dollars even though lives are on the line,” Gonzmart said.
Thanks to Richard’s Run for Life, cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center will one day sprint to the finish line. Every runner and walker carries the promise of life-saving research and the dream of a cure. Moffitt Cancer Center applauds Richard Gonzmart’s remarkable generosity and dedication toward our mission – to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute has made a lasting commitment to the prevention and cure of cancer, working tirelessly in the areas of patient care, research and education to advance one step further in fighting this disease.
