Gail Purtan was diagnosed with an advanced case of ovarian cancer in 1997. She is a patient of Vainutis K. Vaitkevicius, M.D., M.A.C.P. Her husband Dick Purtan, a local radio personality for Oldies 104.3, WOMC-FM, is also a cancer survivor and was treated for prostate cancer in 1992.

Dick Purtan and Gail have become local activists in the fight against cancer and initiated the Gail Purtan Ovarian Cancer Fund in the summer of 1998.

Since the inception of the fund, hundreds of donors from throughout southeastern Michigan have contributed to it, raising more than $93,000. The Partners, a group of young volunteers at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, have also raised an additional $250,000 for the fund.

This Fund has helped purchase leading-edge equipment for the treatment of ovarian cancer, and in January of 1999, some of the Fund was allocated towards the purchase of a new laserscope for the Institute. The laserscope is an advanced piece of equipment used administer photodynamic treatment and the Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of just a few cancer centers in the nation to used such advanced treatment. The Fund has also been directed towards numerous areas of research in ovarian cancer, with specific emphasis on immunotherapy and genetic research.

Join Oldies 104.3 WOMC's very own Dick Purtan & Purtan's People for the 5th Annual Dick Purtan Golf Outing to benefit the Gail Purtan Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, presented to you by Cadillac. The event is July 17th, 2002 at Greystone Golf Club in Romeo. The day begins with a live Purtan's People broadcast at 6am, followed by a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Immediately after golf, many local CEO's and Celebrities will join Dick Purtan in a Million Dollar Shoot Out. If someone makes the hole-in-one, $500,000 goes to the Karmanos Cancer Institute, the other $500,000 to the charity of their choice. Dinner will follow the CEO/Celebrity shoot out.

Listeners can register to play in the Golf Outing between June 10, 2002 and July 1, 2002 at any Credit Union One location or by bidding in an on air auction the June 24, 2002 through June 28, 2002. See the Oldies 104.3 WOMC website for more information on the event.

Call the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Foundation at (248) 443-5800 for more information on how to support the Gail Purtan Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.