Russell Medical
Foundation Gala STORY BY BETSY ILER
R
ussell Medical Foundation is putting the finishing touches on the benefit event at The Mill Two Eighty scheduled for Feb. 26. The venue will be staged in the setting of New York City’s iconic Rainbow Room. The gala will feature the return of NY NY Dueling Piano performers, Mike and Mark, to benefit the UAB Medicine – Russell Medical Cancer Center. The black tie optional evening will recreate the famous restaurant and Bar SixtyFive on the 65th floor at 30 Rockfeller Center with silhouetted landmarks in mock floor-to-ceiling windows, a spectacular chandelier and lots of glitz and glamour, said event designer Jenny Luttrell. Fine details for the elegant affair will include black tablecloths with white chairs, white china rimmed in gold, silver and white flowers, a Rainbow Room styled menu and spotless glass everywhere. Hors d’oeuvres for the 6 p.m. cocktail hour before dinner will feature classic gourmet New York bites – mini bagels, hot dogs, pretzels and the like. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., and the evening’s entertainment will begin as dessert is served, Luttrell said. “NY NY Dueling Pianos were here two years ago, and it was so much fun; everyone was asking us to bring them back,” Luttrell said. “There’s a black baby grand piano and a white baby grand
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piano on the stage, and these two guys come in, who are absolutely amazing piano players. They play a wide variety of music. They also take requests, and they sing. They are so much fun. When we had them here two years ago, people were up and dancing and singing. They pulled people up on stage. We were all just having so much fun, and we are excited about bringing them back again. They were fantastic.” The goal for the annual gala event is to raise $200,000 for the purchase of stereotactic body radiotherapy equipment, providing state-of-theart, precisely focused radiation treatment for tumors in the lungs, spine, liver, neck, lymph node and other soft tissues, said Russell Medical Foundation executive director Tammy Jackson. SBRT uses three-dimensional imaging to target high doses of radiation beamed to affected areas, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy issue. “Our objective is to upgrade with the top equipment, so patients can get their radiation and chemo right here and not have to travel outside of our city for the best cancer care,” Jackson said. “We are so excited to bring the gala back. The community loves a fun dress-up affair, and we are ready for fun again. Two years ago, this was the last event we had at The Mill Two Eighty for
