In Memoriam, UP Artist to Match Funds at ArtCure
University Park Artist Doyle Glass is intent on revenge. In 2014 he lost his wife Kim to cancer, and has vowed to defeat her killer. Before she passed away, Kim said her wish was to end metastatic cancer and childhood cancer.
“My mission is to fulfill her mission,” Glass said.
The couple met in 2002 when both were living in Louisville, Ky. They got married four years later, and had a baby girl in 2007. Despite having regular checkups, including mammograms, Kim was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in July 2011. She endured three painful years of radical surgery, chemotherapy and radiation before she died at age 46.
Doyle recalls seeing the pain in her eyes, as she knew she would not be able to watch her daughter grow up. “My life goal is to make sure other people don’t have to go through what she did,” Glass said.
In order to meet said goal, Glass created ArtCure, an event designed to fund cancer research. Proceeds are raised primarily through an art auction of items curated by Glass, as well as some of his own sculptures. Glass will also personally match each dollar raised.
Along with fundraising, ArtCure seeks to raise awareness. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 40,000 women die in the United Sates each year from metastatic breast cancer, which occurs when cancer spreads from one part of the body to another. Only five percent of all funds nationally go towards finding a cure for this type cancer.
“Despite the awareness, there are a good number of women who did do the right things and still got cancer,” Glass said.
Save the Date
Date: April 15
Time: 6-9:30 p.m.
Where: The Loft at Gilley’s Dallas
1135 S. Lamar
Tickets: $75 per individual
$100 per couple
More info: artcuredallas.org
Half of the money raised at ArtCure will benefit the Children’s Research Institute at UT Southwestern led by Dr. Sean Morrison. Glass helped establish the Kim Hazelwood Glass Endowment for Cancer Research at the institute to serve as a permanent funding mechanism for programs aimed at finding cures.
According to Dr. Morrison, funds provided by the foundation are helping his team improve cancer therapy by coming to a better understanding of the disease at a molecular level. “[Glass] is a remarkable guy who responded to tragedy with determination,” Morrison said. “We in Children’s Research Institute are grateful for Doyle’s energy and commitment to making a difference.”
The other half of the money will be donated to the Dr. Matthew Ellis Lab at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The lab focuses specifically on individualized treatments for women with metastatic breast cancer. According to Glass, initial studies have been very encouraging.
Glass recalls how generous and hard working Kim was. She did not come from much money, but managed to put herself through school based largely on the grit of her own determination. He sees similar traits in their daughter, who is now 9. She is raising money for cancer research by making bookmarks, and hopes to have some available for purchase at ArtCure.
According to Glass, fighting cancer gives him personal satisfaction and has helped with the grieving process. “I feel a lot of guilt that I could not save her,” Glass said. “At least I can go after the beast that killed her.”
