Last December, Sen. Dole notified the Foundation of his desire to support the Partnership for Life Campaign, giving $150,000 to create a prostate cancer research fund at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Sen. Dole was diagnosed with prostate cancer more than 17 years ago. Today, he is a cancer survivor and far from alone. Prostate cancer remains the most common non-cutaneous cancer in American men and the second leading cancer killer of men in the United States. In 2007, approximately 1,500 men in Kansas were diagnosed with prostate cancer; over 300 of them will die in 2008. Dole says that he was lucky to have had the disease diagnosed early and treated promptly.

Mark Nelson, KMF Executive Director, said that the Senator was pleased with the Masons' partnership with the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute and wanted to help. "Sen. Dole told me he was excited by the innovative research and wanted to be a part of the progress," Nelson said.

The Bob Dole Prostate Cancer Research Fund will be an endowed fund that will advance prostate cancer research programs at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. The fund will provide resources for investigators to advance prostate cancer research projects, including novel therapeutic research, which will directly impact the treatment of men suffering from this disease.

The mission of the University of Kansas Cancer Center is to decrease the burden of cancer and save lives. Its primary goal is to become the only cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute, NCI, between Denver and St. Louis. By virtue of their established excellence in cancer research and medical care, NCI-designated cancer centers have access to the most up-to-date research, prevention strategies and Phase I clinical trials.

"Support for our research programs is imperative as we move forward with our goal of bringing an NCI-designated cancer center to Kansas and to this region. With the support of the Kansas Masonic Foundation and the generosity of great Kansans like Sen. Bob Dole, we will continue to make progress and an immediate impact in reducing the burden of cancer in Kansas," said Roy Jensen, M.D., Director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center and the KMCRI.

This gift is part of the $15 million Partnership for Life Campaign pledge that Kansas Masons and friends made to the KMCRI. To date, the Masons through the Kansas Masonic Foundation have given almost $13.5 million of the pledge.