Tulsa-based organization established in memory of Donna Holland White

Cancer Sucks Inc. donated $10,000 to help OSU’s Center for Health Sciences to buy an Accuri C6 flow cytometer machine that can be used to investigate normal and cancerous cells. Dr. Rashmi Kaul will use it to aid cancer research and educate students.

“We like to physically see that our donations are doing some good in our community and also in the research field,” said Rick Horton, Founder of Cancer Sucks Inc. “OSU has always used our donations in a way that we can see.”

Kaul will use the flow cytometer for ongoing cancer research in the laboratory to investigate features of human cells of both the normal and cancerous varieties, specifically Hepatitis-C-related liver cancer. Not only will the machine be used for research but also education and training of OSU-CHS medical and graduate students, who could become leading scientists. OSU-CHS will also use the machine to participate in a new community program training disadvantaged students from Tulsa-area schools and undergraduate institutions to increase their exposure to scientific research.

“Above all, this instrument will generate more research publications and thus chances to increase state and federal funding at OSU-CHS,” said Kaul, who is an associate professor of immunology at OSU’s Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa.  “More than one-third of papers in the Journal of Immunology and other reputed cell science journals include data generated using a flow cytometer.”

This gift brings Cancer Sucks’ total support of OSU-CHS to $27,600.

“Cancer Sucks Inc. has supported cancer research at OSU-CHS since 2006,” Kaul said. “We are extremely grateful to the Cancer Sucks Inc for their constant support for the past four years for ongoing cancer research in our laboratory.”

Cancer Sucks Inc. was created to decrease the pain and frustration that comes from losing a loved one to cancer. It also strives to combat cancer and minimize the chances of more people experiencing loss because of the disease.  The death of Donna Holland White inspired her friends and family to help find a cure for cancer and form the organization.

“The 1996 death of Donna Holland White was a devastating event and one that will never be forgotten,” Horton said.  “When Donna died, four of us who were close to her took a memorial motorcycle ride. Donna was an avid motorcyclist. During the trip, the term ‘cancer sucks’ was tossed about more than once. Upon our return, one of us had some shirts made that read ‘First Annual Donna White Memorial Cancersucks Bike Ride.’ The rest is history. The ride lives on, and so does Donna's vivid memory.

“While undergoing treatments, surgeries and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with cancer, Donna still had time to think of others by making arrangements to have her body donated to cancer research at the time of her death. Cancer Sucks Inc. is a living memorial dedicated to Donna Holland White and focused on raising as much money for cancer research as we can.”

Donations can be made and more information found at Cancersucks.com.

The OSU Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach.  OSU has more than 32,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations.  Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world.

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