The newly opened Cardroom at Oxford Downs will host poker tournaments with the purpose of introducing area residents to the world-class cancer research facility right in their own backyards. By Bonnie Kretchik
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n 2017, the American Cancer Society predicts 1,688,780 new cases of cancer. Even more troubling, over 600,000 mothers, fathers, children and loved ones will lose their battle this year. Cancer knows no age, race or gender. “I don’t care who you are, you will be affected by cancer in one way or another,” says Tony Mendola, managing partner of Oxford Downs. Tony fought his own three-year battle with esophageal cancer and knows the physical and emotional struggle all too well. That’s exactly why he and the Jank family, Sharon and Mark, have decided to host a fun event combining awareness and education about the world-class cancer research facility at the University of Florida’s Cancer Research Center in Gainesville for residents of Ocala and The Villages. “Sharon and Mark have been very vocal about their family’s battle with cancer, and they introduced me to the Cancer Center at UF. It blew my mind
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that we are a mere 35 miles from a world-class facility,” says Tony. Three members of the Jank family have experience with the disease. Mark, an ophthalmologist with Ocala Eye, was diagnosed with and beat oral cancer 15 years prior to his wife’s diagnosis of breast cancer in 2013. “A year after my diagnosis in January 2014, my daughter, Molly, began experiencing pain in her leg,” Sharon recalls. “But she was 17, and we never expected it to be something more serious than some growing pains,” she says. But the pain was something more, and by February, Molly was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. While most 17 year olds were planning proms and graduation parties, Molly was receiving care at the UF Health Cancer Center. Today, she, Mark, Sharon and Tony are cancer free but feel they have a responsibility to share their stories with others in an effort to provide awareness about some of the latest breakthroughs in cancer research and treatments. “We wanted to give back to the community and share with them everything we’ve been through, because we know how hard it can be,” says Sharon. That’s when the group decided the best way to reach a large number of people would be to host a fundraising event for the Cancer Center. However,
they wanted to do something less complex than a golf tournament that would, at the same time, appeal to a wide range of individuals. Thus, the Ante Up Against Cancer event was born. The Ante Up Against Cancer event will be held at the newly opened Cardroom at Oxford Downs. The venue is situated on 70 acres that Tony describes as “picturesque” and offers a variety of poker opportunities with simulcast horse and dog racing. This June, live quarter horse action will also be available. “We are looking to be an entertainment destination,” says Director of Operations Randy Kiefer. He explains that the venue is continuing to grow and expand its offerings with the grand opening of the outdoor tiki bar featuring a full bar and top-notch cuisine. Located right outside The Villages and just South of Ocala, the venue seemed ideal to host the event.