Support for The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) became more internationally spread on November 2, 2013, as longtime OSUCCC – James supporters Ron and Ann Pizzuti, and James Foundation Board member Nick Coe, hosted Lord Sebastian Coe, four-time Olympic medalist and British politician, in an exclusive event.
Lord Coe won gold medals in the 1,500-meter track races in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics and silver medals in the 800-meter during the same games. These feats will be chronicled in the upcoming film “Gold,” in which Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is slated to play Lord Coe. Coe also served as a member of the United Kingdom’s Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1992-1997.
Most recently, Lord Coe successfully led the bid for London to host the 2012 Summer Olympics and served as chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympics. He was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in December 2012.
The exclusive event at the Pizzutis’ home was attended by top donors to The James and Ohio State leadership, including Board of Trustees President Robert Schottenstein and Joseph Alutto, interim president of The Ohio State University. The event marked the first time Lord Coe had spoken in the United States since the London Olympics in 2012. His wife Carole joined him at the event.
To kick off the evening, Michael A. Caligiuri, MD, director of the OSUCCC and CEO of The James, provided updates on the latest research discoveries and treatment breakthroughs and introduced Nick Coe, CEO of Bath & Body Works, member of the James Foundation Board and brother to Lord Coe. Nick Coe provided a warm welcome for his brother and thanked him for joining the ever-growing bandwagon of supporters for the OSUCCC – James.
Lord Coe regaled guests with stories of his Olympic and political accomplishments. He praised the work of the OSUCCC – James as important in the worldwide quest to end cancer. As Dr. Caligiuri said in his brief remarks to close the evening, “Just as Lord Coe has overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, The James is achieving its own successes as we tackle the fight against cancer.”
Lord Coe’s visit illustrates the best of what can happen when friends of the OSUCCC – James utilize their relationships to involve others in Ohio State’s eforts to defeat cancer. After all, cancer knows no international boundaries.