Peyton Manning Scores Big at 16th Annual Men for the Cure

No question about it. Pey-ton Man-ning is a star. (You’re singing that last sentence like the Nationwide Insurance jingle, right?) On Thursday, Sept. 15, more than 800 guys of all ages had the chance to hear about Manning’s post-NFL life at this year’s Men for the Cure. In a question-and-answer format with sportscaster Vic Lombardi, the sellout crowd heard all about a spectrum of Peyton-focused subjects…and hung on every word. But no one forgot the true reason for the event itself: supporting and advancing the life-saving work of University of Colorado Hospital and specifically the Diane O’Connor Thompson Breast Center. Every dollar raised at this event stays home.

(l to r): Derrick Whiting, Jonathan Gill and Hayden Byer

The evening began with an energetic reception with enticements inside and outdoors. A silent auction was center stage for strategic bidding as talented trio Bad Candy entertained. Meanwhile, The Robusto Room rolled free cigars, adult beverage stations stayed busy and partygoers popped bite-sized appetizers from Catering By Design as they dished about manly topics. Spotted in the crowd: Joe Ellis, Denver Broncos president and CEO, as well as Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Almost 200 men donated a C-note for the chance to win a 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse Motorcycle donated by Gail, Dave and event co-chair Dave Liniger Jr., and Grand Prix Motorsports.

Event co-founder Jeff Thompson (left), with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock

After a welcome from event co-founder and emcee Ed Greene, University of Colorado Hospital’s president and CEO Will Cook told the crowd that past proceeds have been used for projects such as The Pink Life Saver mobile mammography van, as well as recruiting the nation’s best and brightest medical professionals. This year’s proceeds are targeted to help patients cover DigniCap treatments, a scalp cooling system that can reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss in women with breast cancer. A live auction featured high bids, with one guest donating $40,000 for 100 of his employees to play 18 holes at coveted Sanctuary Golf Club.

Peyton Manning greets the crowd, with Vic Lombardi (left).

Manning was greeted with a standing ovation and Lombardi quickly began to delve into topics ranging from Peyton’s slew of TV commercials (Manning apologized to the crowd, saying, “sorry, I haven’t retired from commercials”) to his current kindergarten-carpooling duties and even a Saturday Night Live appearance that featured Manning’s classic United Way “commercial.” They heard his most dreaded pass-rusher was Ray Lewis, and Manning joked that he always wanted the NFL to ban the tipped-ball interception. What’s next? He told the crowd he’s not ready to rush into anything on a whim. Manning ended his stage presentation with a serious note about wife Ashley’s mother, Marsha, and her fight against breast cancer.

The “Pink Life Saver,” UCHealth’s mobile mammography van, has traveled a lot of miles and saved lives.

Men for the Cure began in 2000 after Diane O’Connor Thompson lost her battle with breast cancer. Greene and Diane’s husband Jeff Thompson, part of a group of men who regularly had dinners together, decided something good should come out of that tragic event. To honor Diane, they expanded their dinner concept into a guys’ night out to raise funds for breast cancer treatment and research. Sharon Magness Blake came on board to help facilitate the public event, and Men for the Cure grows every year. For more information, please visit: UCH.thankyou4caring.org/menforthecure.

The Diane O’Connor Thompson Breast Center, located on the Anschutz Medical Campus, is the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region, offering the most comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for breast-cancer treatment. During a single clinic visit, patients receive reviews of mammograms by a breast radiologist, review of all biopsy and surgical material by a breast pathologist and individual consultations with a surgical, medical and radiation oncologist.

University of Colorado Hospital is the only place in the state where 3-D mammography is the standard of care (every mammogram, every time). The 3-D mammograms can detect invasive breast cancer 40 percent sooner than traditional methods and reduce the number of false positives. For more information, please visit: UCHealth.org.