Willmeng was honored to attend the Evening of Dream’s Gala hosted by Colleen’s Dream Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for research that will lead to reliable early detection testing and improved treatment for ovarian cancer. Billy Cundiff of Hines lost his mother-in-law, Colleen, to ovarian cancer, and in 2012 his wife, Nicole, and her sisters started the foundation in an effort to help families in similar situations and to spread awareness.
Willmeng President James Murphy attended the event. The evening included a hosted cocktail hour, a silent and live auction, dinner and entertainment by The Walkens. “This event was very well-organized and truly first class from beginning to end,” said Murphy. “Billy’s emotionally charged speech was fantastic and really brought home the impact of this awful form of cancer. It was great to see the turn out from the commercial real estate community, in particular, in support of Billy and Nicole.”
The foundation brought the audience to tears when they awarded the Dreamer of the Year Award to Tom Ross, who carried some of Colleen’s ashes to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and in 2016, raised over $22,000 for ovarian cancer research in Arizona.
With over 30 different types of ovarian cancer, this disease can appear with few warnings because the signs and symptoms are subtle and vague. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death, and the leading cause of gynecologic cancer deaths among women in the US. Murphy learned that early diagnosis is essential for women who are impacted, and that there is a need for those with a family history of cancer to get tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic markers.
“Colleen’s Dream Foundation and the Evening of Dreams Gala are having a huge impact in the fight against ovarian cancer, as well as finding a cure,” said Murphy. “The organization is also making a difference in the community by informing people about the symptoms of ovarian cancer, which ultimately changes and saves lives.”
To learn more about Colleen’s journey, her family, the lives that she touched and the cancer that plagues so many, visit colleensdreams.org.
