Yahoo News Robin Roberts and Lara Spencer Cry on “GMA” Over $400M Cancer Research Donation
The gift was the largest single donation in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s nearly 150-year history
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Robin Roberts and Lara SpencerRobin Roberts and Lara Spencer were brought to tears after a massive donation was made toward cancer research.
On Tuesday's broadcast of Good Morning America, Roberts, a cancer survivor, and Spencer welcomed philanthropic businessman Kenneth C. Griffin to the show as he and music mogul David Geffen made a $400 million donation to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
Roberts, who has co-anchored the morning show since 2005, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and went into remission. But five years later, she was diagnosed with a rare blood and bone marrow disease called myelodysplastic syndrome and needed a bone marrow transplant to survive.
The founder of Citadel, meanwhile, was there to present the donation to MSK’s CEO Dr. Selwyn Vickers while surrounded by a group of healthcare workers and patients. It's the largest single donation in MSK's nearly 150-year history.
"It's unbelievable the difference it will make in so many lives," Spencer, 54, said while in tears. "Why was this so important for you to donate in such a large number that will make such a huge difference?"
"All of us here dream of the day we end cancer," Griffin replied. "I'm certain MSK will play an important role in ending cancer in our lifetime. But until that day, the team at MSK give the patients that are enduring cancer hope, dignity, and compassion in their care."
He added, "All of the work that you do to help the patients at MSK beat cancer and find their lives again is God’s work. Thank you so much.”
Roberts, 63, then broke down in tears as she noted that everyone in the room has been impacted by cancer, whether personally or through friends and family.
"Dr. Vickers, just talk about $400 million. How is that going to help your team achieve what it is that you want to achieve?" Roberts tearfully asked.
“This gift is transformative. Not only is it the largest but it means so much at this time,” Vickers said. “I personally want to thank Ken for being here and David, if he’s watching, for allowing these resources to move forward to what I think is a treasure in American healthcare.”
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He added that the donation will allow MSK to help further cancer research and build new facilities to expand patient care for those battling cancer.
Roberts then joked about the amount of tears in the room. "Our crew doesn't have Kleenex for us? Tissues?" she quipped. "How can we do a segment like this and they don't have any tissues for us? The one time!"
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