Cruisin for a cure to prostate cancer

Much has changed since the nonprofit Cowtown Cruisin’ for a Cure was founded in 2002 by prostate cancer survivor Chris Goetz to raise awareness of the disease in Tarrant County.

The annual car show, fundraiser and cancer-screening event has grown from about 350 cars and 5,000 people to drawing now almost 500 cars and 20,000 people.

What hasn’t changed is the organization’s unwavering support of UNT Health Science Center’s prostate cancer treatment research. Cowtown Cruisin’ for a Cure has donated more than $100,000 in proceeds to support the research of Andras Lacko, PhD.

Dr. Lacko’s research explores using nanoparticles to deliver anti-cancer medications directly to cholesterol-hungry cancer cells while avoiding damage to healthy cells. This could prevent the devastating effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, hair loss, sores in the mouth and throat, and bone-marrow suppression.

Cruising-chiefs-Lacko-web“We have been very impressed by the exceptional research at the UNT Health Science Center and, specifically, Dr. Lacko’s work,” said Terry Mann, Cowtown Cruisin’ for a Cure President. “His research is very promising and fits perfectly with our goal to raise money to promote a cure for prostate cancer.”

At a ceremony on Sept. 11 at the Moncrief Cancer Institute, Cruisin’ for a Cure will give Dr. Lacko its Classic Heroes Award of Gratitude for his work.

Dr. Lacko, Professor of Integrative Physiology and Anatomy, called the nonprofit group one of the “most generous and ardent supporters” of his research. That support is especially important because of steady declines in available federal funding dollars for research.

“Without the support of Cowtown Cruisin’ for a Cure, our program could not have survived these difficult times,” Dr. Lacko said. “We are most appreciative of their support and hope to contribute to the cure of prostate cancer in the near future.”

Recent News

Ashenafi 768x768
  • Our People
|Sep 20, 2023

Dr. Ashenafi Cherkos awarded prestigious AIM-AHEAD Fellowship in Leadership

Dr. Ashenafi Cherkos, assistant professor at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, has been awarded the prestigious AIM-AHEAD Fellowship in Leadership for the Fall 2023 cohort. Cherkos serves in the School of Public Health’s Department of Population and Community Healt...
Djperera
  • On Campus
|Sep 20, 2023

Innovate Fort Worth podcast: DJ Perera of New Age Media New Age Learning program

Innovate Fort Worth, the local podcast showcasing local innovation and its dynamic creators, recently featured DJ Perera, a trailblazing artist and educator. Hosted by Cameron Cushman of The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, the podcast episode delves into the intersecti...
Darlene Watkins
  • On Campus
|Sep 20, 2023

HSC student advocates for falls prevention awareness in Tarrant County

Darlene Watkins has dedicated her life to creating healthier and sustainable communities. Her background in interdisciplinary design led her to work with various community organizations from Atlanta to California, but it was her passion for educating aging populations that fueled her desire to wo...
Glenn Forister
  • On Campus
|Sep 19, 2023

HSC’s School of Health Professions to host Health Professions Workforce Symposium

Modern medicine is a team sport, and roughly 60% of that team is composed of practitioners who exist outside of the doctor-nurse paradigm. These vital pillars make up the backbone of the $3 trillion health care sector, and they’re among the fastest-growing professions in the world. From 5 to 8 p....