Raised Over $165K Because of Your Fundraising Donations
Oh, what a night! I am truly left speechless after everyone that showed up to support the Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund. Over $165,000 dollars were raised for MD Anderson cancer research from this event alone, and a check with the fundraising donations was presented to the fabulous gastric cancer surgeon, Dr. Brian Badgewell of MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Badgewell along with his team of nurses and dietitian came to support and attend the evening. He gave the most outstanding, thoughtful speech – I get teary just thinking about it!
Dr. Brian Badgewell of MD Anderson Cancer Center and Holly Clegg during check presentation.
MD Anderson Cancer Research with Doctor Brian Badgewell
Because of all of yall’s fundraising donations, Dr. Brian Badgewell said, “We can activate trials based on the Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research fund within a year. We always have ideas ready to go and just having the money helps put them in motion.”
And This is Only the Beginning!
The sold out event raised $165K from all of the ticket sales, generous donors and corporate sponsors where all proceeds went directly to the Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund we started at MD Anderson! We were all blown away – all we can say is wow Baton Rouge!! I am so grateful for the support the city has shown mr throughout her career and even more touched how Baton Rouge showed up in numbers and donations for this event.
Highlight video from Marc Goldstein of Creative Video Productions
Sylvia Weatherspoon of WBRZ
Magical Evening for Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund
The lovely and most gracious Sylvia Weatherspoon of WBRZ MC’d the night so beautifully. Marc Goldstein of Creative Video Productions created and showed the best highlight video of career highlights through the years – all those hairstyles – oh my!
Dr Curtis Chastain, Holly Clegg, and Karen Stephens
Unbelievably, the event to benefit MD Anderson cancer research came together in only 1 month, as Dr. Curtis Chastain came to me with the idea on July 1; and on August 1st, it was a Cinderella night I will never forget. So many people came together to plan and organize this event, along with all of your fundraising donations and I am so grateful to each one of you that helped carry out my legacy to cure and prevent gastric cancer through the Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund.
Dr Curtis Chastain, Allison Collins, David St. Romain
A Huge Thank You to Dr. Curtis Chastain, the V-Tones & Varsity Theatre
First of all, I must thank Dr. Curtis Chastain, Kyle Talbert and the whole V-Tones Band for volunteering their time and energy and starting the ball rolling on the whole event! The V-Tones had 2 other supremely talented artists, David St. Romain and the Allison Collins Band join them on the Varsity Theatre stage for the evening and they all rocked the house! A huge thank you to the Varsity Theatre venue for being the perfect host on this amazing night.
Gino’s Tortellini Carbonara
French Market Bistro Charcuterie Board
My Favorite Restaurants Brought Their A-Game
A few of my absolute favorite restaurants in the world gave so much of their time and outstanding food. My dear Gino of Gino’s Italian Restaurant brought his out-of-this-world Tortellini Carbonara – and word is, it is the best thing they have ever tasted! Justin of French Market Bistro had a beautiful Charcuterie Board, Grilled Vegetables and Pulled Pork dish while Louisiana Lagniappe provided Boiled Shrimp and Marinated Crab Claws that is my go-to appetizer for years and years! Canes Chicken Fingers were brought fresh and crispy through the night – how good is that?!
Nothing Bundt Cake Bundtinis and Calandro’s Supermarket King Cakes
Can’t Forget Dessert!
And you know I always save room for dessert and boy those did not disappoint. The acclaimed Nothing Bundt Cakes brought a smorgasbord of their famous Bundtinis including Chocolate-Chocolate Chip, Red Velvet, White Chocolate Raspberry, and Lemon. Calandros Supermarket provided an unbelievable assortment of King Cakes – my absolute favorite! I have been known to pick up their king cakes weekly during Mardi Gras season.
#TeamHolly Coca Cola
Urban Spikes Succulent Centerpieces
Mockler Beverage and Melanie Clark at Coca Cola provided beverages for the evening. How cute and thoughtful are these #TeamHolly coke bottles!!! My oh-so-talented daughter, Courtney and her amazing business Urban Spikes provided the gorgeous centerpieces for the evening.
Media & Corporate Sponsors Made the Event a Success
The Advocate, InRegister, 225 Magazine, WAFB and WBRZ were so kind to cover amazing press for the event. Lamar Advertising even generously posted digital billboards – how cool is that! Other corporate sponsors that made this dream a reality include H&E Equipment Services, Roofing Solutions, Mercedes Benz of Baton Rouge, Stabiler Foundation, Mapp Construction and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital – thank y’all so much for your generous fundraising donations towards this evening benefitting the Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund.
Holly Clegg and Karen Stephens
And last but definitely not least, my BFF, Karen Stephens worked tirelessly to pull all of these details together to make this night a success beyond my wildest dreams.
Gastric Cancer Awareness – This is Just the Beginning!
Proceeds from this event combined with fundraising donations from the beginning of the fund, beginning only 6 weeks ago total over $200,000. I am truly the happiest person in hospice! And with y’alls help, my legacy will live on, year after year to promote gastric cancer awareness and continue to raise funds to this underfunded and under-research disease to one day find a cure.
ALL MY EASY HEALTHY COOKBOOKS – Start Cooking!
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