Brent Porteus is no stranger to hard work. Having grown up on a farm in Coshocton, Ohio, he was raised to help in the family’s chores. Now, as the managing partner of the family-owned farm and agricultural business – Blair Porteus and Sons – he has passed this work ethic along to his daughters, Amy and Beth, and he expects the same hard work from his caring community. Brent’s wife, Debra, shared his work ethic in her roles in the family business and also had a special ability to build relationships to benefit the business and community. So when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring of 1997, there was no doubt that she would fight with everything she had. After a mastectomy in 1998 to remove the cancer, doctors discovered in 2005 that her cancer had metastasized. Debra went to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. In its third year now, Cultivating A Cure has raised more than $120,000 for research at the OSUCCC – James. These funds support three separate efforts: Dr. Ramaswamy’s breast cancer therapy research The Lee Discretionary Fund supporting cancer-prevention efforts using food and nutrition The Cooperatives for a Cure Fund, a collaborative effort between the OSUCCC – James and Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to identify dietary and nutritional links to cancer treatment and prevention Brent knows that this event isn’t just about agriculture, nor is it solely to honor Debra, but to bring the community together for a shared cause. “It’s always good to give and even better when you’re joined by your community in the effort,” he says. You can give back, too, by visiting cancer.osu.edu/waystogive!