Fine ale event will raise funds for brain cancer research
On the surface, beer and brain cancer aren’t subjects that seem to go together. Yet, Louis Dolgoff hopes that the fine art of one will help bring attention to the other in an annual event that will honor his late wife, Laurie, who passed away in August 2009.
Dolgoff, a craft beer expert and promotions manager for Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales, has planned events for years but never thought he’d be coordinating a fundraiser to benefit brain cancer education and research. Three years ago, however, this cause became personal. Laurie, his spouse of 30 years, was diagnosed with a Type IV glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor in March 2007. At the time, Laurie was the manager of the Escada store at the Biltmore Shopping Plaza.
“She was having horrible headaches,” Dolgoff says. “We thought they were migraines but soon learned otherwise.”
Finding hope at Barrow
In April 2007, Laurie underwent surgery at a local hospital to remove the mass and was then referred to Barrow neuro-oncologist Lynn Ashby, MD, for follow-up care. Though the prognosis was not good—usually those with this stage of the disease don’t live more than a year—the Dolgoffs were impressed and comforted by Dr. Ashby’s approach to Laurie’s case.
“Dr. Ashby gave us hope. We never felt like Laurie wasn’t going to live very long or that she was ever in a hospital. She lived 2 1⁄2 years longer than we expected. The care provided by Dr. Ashby and our experience at Barrow was great,” Dolgoff says.
Brain cancer accounts for 20,000 deaths per year in the U.S., and glioblastoma is the most common and malignant brain tumor in adults.
Shedding light on brain cancer
Dolgoff believes that the pairing of fine ales and food is the perfect platform to shed light on a type of brain cancer that he says flies somewhat under the radar.
“We heard a little about glioblastoma multiforme tumors in the press after Sen. Ted Kennedy died from the disease, but since then there hasn’t been much attention on the subject,” he says. “So many are affected by this, directly and indirectly.”
With his knowledge of fine ales and his marketing background, Dolgoff intends to create the premiere craft beer event in the country while raising awareness about brain cancer in a classy way. He emphasizes it’s not a beer festival but rather an opportunity for those interested in craft brews (ales produced by breweries and sold in limited quantities) to gather for a taste of flavor in a celebratory toast to his wife. The aptly-named Off-Centered Experience will be held at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort on Saturday, October 2, and will include samplings of several rare beers from various breweries, including 25 specialty selections donated by Dogfish. The event will also feature gourmet food, unique entertainment—rockabilly, garage, and marching bands; belly dancers, sword swallowers, and fire-eaters; live art auction and raffles; short films; and a pro-am contest for home brewers.
The Off-Centered Experience will help kick off fundraising efforts to develop a dedicated brain tumor center at Barrow and launch membership in Beer for Brains, a foundation Dolgoff has setup in Laurie’s memory. The foundation will enable him to continue to educate the public about brain cancer. “She was not only my love but my best friend, ”Dolgoff says. “I’d give my arm to have her back. I promised her I would raise money every year for brain cancer research. If I can do this, then I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished something. The Off-Centered Experience and Beer for Brains foundation will help support that goal. It’s a gift to Laurie and Barrow.”
