Tickets for the 25th annual Bears Care Gala, which will take place June 4 at the United Club at Soldier Field, are on sale now at ChicagoBears.com/BearsCareGala. The Gala provides continued support for promising ongoing research in the fight against breast and ovarian cancer and funding new initiatives and clinical trials, several of which focus on addressing health inequity in cancer care for women of color.
The Gala begins at 6 p.m. and will feature player arrivals and interviews, cocktail reception, live and silent auctions, seated dinner and dancing to the music of the Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra. Bears general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, front office executives, current players and alumni are scheduled to attend. Jeff Joniak, Voice of the Bears on WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9 FM, will emcee the Gala and be joined by former Bears guard and current radio analyst Tom Thayer in conducting the live auction.
Through the Gala, Bears Care has awarded more than $16 million in grants to fund innovative women's cancer research and treatment programs led by clinicians and scientists at several of Chicago's major medical institutions. These programs include:
- Continuing studies in experimental models and early-stage clinical trials to better understand how targeting a specific protein on tumor-associated macrophages can reduce their migration into tumors where they promote tumor growth
- Launching a research project on the physiological differences, particularly in gene expression and regulation, that may lead to racial disparities in gynecologic diseases
- Furthering research to effectively target and eliminate genetically damaged cells in the ovary by removing the potentially malignant cells and lowering cancer risk
- Developing a multi-institutional, centralized database and patient navigation system to help minority women with gynecologic malignancies better understand, access and enroll in clinical trials
Fans who are unable to attend the event will still be able to support the cause by bidding online for a variety of Bears experiences, memorabilia and more. Details on auction items and how to bid online will be available in late May at ChicagoBears.com/BearsCareGala. Fans can also donate to Bears Care at ChicagoBears.com/BearsCare.
