The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) , the largest private funder of melanoma research, will hold its second annual Leveraged Finance Fights Melanoma benefit on May 21 at the Summer Garden and Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center. Funds raised at the event will support the MRA’s global research program.
Chaired by Jeff Rowbottom, KKR’s Head of Capital Markets in the Americas and an MRA board member, and Brendan Dillon, Managing Director, Global Leveraged Finance Syndicate, from UBS, the host committee and attendees include professionals working in leveraged finance, spanning all the top banks, investment houses, law firms, select issuers, and private equity sponsors. Special attendees at this year’s event include Apollo’s Leon Black, KKR’s Henry Kravis, Oak Hill’s Glenn August, Oaktree’s Howard Marks, and Simpson Thacher Bartlett’s Dick Beattie.
Last year, about 600 professionals attended the MRA’s inaugural event at the Bryant Park Grill with $925,000 raised from 45 sponsors and more than 200 individual donations. 100% of all public donations to the MRA go directly to support research programs working toward eliminating suffering and death from melanoma.
“Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. and worldwide. Nearly 80,000 Americans will be diagnosed in 2013. As Memorial Day weekend and the summer approaches, it is vital to know how to protect yourself and your loved ones against the sun’s harmful rays. With this event, we will raise funds for crucial research, while also raising awareness. Melanoma can usually be defeated if diagnosed early, but if neglected, it can become fatal,” said Mr. Rowbottom.
In support of the 2013 event, a group led by the market intelligence and technology firm Ipreo and executives from KKR has made a $250,000 pledge that provides $100 to MRA for every person who has completed a skin check in the last six months or vows to make an appointment within the next three months. Individuals can sign up to participate on Ipreo’s Debt Domain site www.debtdomain.com/LFFM.
Approximately 1 in 50 men and women will be diagnosed with melanoma of the skin during their lifetime. The overall 5-year survival rate for patients, whose melanoma is detected early, before the tumor has spread to regional lymph nodes or other organs, is about 98 percent in the U.S. The survival rate falls to 62 percent when the disease reaches the lymph nodes, and 15 percent when the disease metastasizes to distant organs.
More details, including how to purchase tickets for the Leveraged Finance Fights Melanoma benefit on May 21 at the Summer Garden and Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center, can be found by clicking HERE.
The Melanoma Research Alliance is a public charity formed in 2007 under the auspices of the Milken Institute, with the generous founding support of Debra and Leon Black (www.curemelanoma.org).
© 2013 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 5-14-13
