Benefactors

Auburn resident Virgil Traynor knows what it's like to have your life turned upside down because of cancer. Seven years ago, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer at UC Davis Cancer Center.

With his cancer now in remission, Traynor, along with longtime friend and fellow Auburn resident Richard Azevedo, is spearheading a community effort to create a million-dollar endowment for UC Davis Cancer Center to help bolster research.

"Once you experience cancer first hand, you can see it's not someone else's disease. It's mine. It's yours," said Traynor. "I think we have demonstrated there is something you can do about it n a collective manner."

And what he, Azevedo and other Auburn residents have done is no minor feat. Nineteen families and businesses have raised $138,000 for the Auburn Community Cancer Endowment Fund. They hope to reach the million-dollar mark in the next five years.

"A lot of it was calling friends and telling them that this is a good cause, how about contributing to it," Azevedo said.

About half of those who contributed gave $10,000 each. For many of the donors, giving money to this endowment fund was a sacrifice because of their own financial situations.

Azevedo is a businessman who has lived in the Sierra foothills city for 44 years and has always been active in the political and community scene. It was his idea to create a fund for cancer research.

"It's a great cause," he said. "Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer."

Azevedo talked the idea over with Traynor, a UC Davis-trained veterinarian who suggested they raise the money for UC Davis Cancer Center. Traynor has lived in Auburn for 40 years.

"Progress is going to be made by scientific discovery and scientific discovery is going to be made at good research centers," Traynor said. "UC Davis Cancer Center is the ultimate we have in our area for research. That was the major reason for choosing them. It's the premier research center in our area and it's something everyone in our area can identify with."

The two men approached other Auburn residents asking them to give to the fund. Manyof them jumped at the chance.

Virgil Traynor and Richard Azevedo raised $138,000 for cancer research.