How one event is fueling the next generation of lung cancer treatment
It’s an evening of tasting, socializing and making a difference. A Taste for Life, which began back in 2010, has raised more than $629,000 for Roswell Park. The funds specifically benefit lung cancer treatment, a cause that resonates deeply with the event hosts — Susan Roney and Sharon McCann.
The Story Behind A Taste for Life
This annual event, now in its 14th year, had a modest but meaningful beginning.
“I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009, as was Sue Sullivan,” said Susan. “We became very good friends and sort of spokespersons, if you will, because we were both around 50 years old and otherwise really healthy, non-smoking women, which was not the population that people tend to think of when they think about lung cancer.”
Sue and her husband began hosting a spring beer bash fundraiser, so Susan decided to do a wine-focused event in the fall. She and her husband ran their first wine-tasting fundraiser out of their kitchen and leaned on their networks to get the event off the ground.
Susan explained, “We hand-printed all the tickets, we personally emailed or hand delivered all the invitations, and at that time, it was just wine and desserts. It was much simpler.”
In 2012, Sue passed away. In an effort to keep her legacy alive, the families chose to combine the two events, which took shape into the current A Taste for Life we know today.
Along the way, Sharon, who was also battling lung cancer, joined forces as a host, as well.
The motivation behind sustaining and growing this event over the years: providing hope and care to patients who need it most.
Funding Lung Cancer Projects at Roswell Park
Over the last 14 years, A Taste for Life has grown not only in size and fundraising dollars but in the types of projects being funded.
“Our first project was what ultimately became OmniSeq, a genetic test to identify mutations that could then be matched with targeted drug therapies,” said Susan. “Sharon was the first Roswell Park patient to have the test once it was approved for patient testing, and it was a match for her. It saved her life because she had a really rare mutation that otherwise who knows how long it would have taken to find out. There was a drug that matched it. So, she was able to go right on to targeted treatment, and she’s been doing well since.”
Susan would also benefit from OmniSeq several years later.
More recently, A Taste for Life has helped fund SurVaxM and CAR T-Cell Therapy. In 2024, dollars raised went toward a project investigating a type of therapy for lung cancer that uses bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs). This specific BiTE T-cell therapy, a branch of immunotherapy, was initially developed at Roswell Park for treating ovarian cancer and is now advancing toward a clinical trial. Researchers are now conducting studies to evaluate BiTE T-cell therapy for lung cancer.
Susan described seeing the real-life impact of their work as amazing.
“It's nice to feel like you have some control over the course of your future, of your treatment. As new treatments become available and research progresses, we just want to continue to be a part of that and support it in whatever way we can, knowing that it's helping me and lots of other patients at Roswell and around the world.”
Advice to Others Looking to Start a Team Roswell Event
Susan encourages others who are motivated to start their own Team Roswell events to just get started and use the team at the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation as a resource each step of the way.
“Don’t be afraid of it. Don’t underestimate yourself. Start with your close connections. Invite your friends and family to whatever event you want to plan because you find that cancer affects everyone around you and people are always wanting to do something to be helpful and supportive and often don’t know how.”
Curious about A Taste for Life?
2025 marks the event’s 14th anniversary. Once again, it will be held at the Saturn Club in Buffalo. Guests will have the opportunity to sample fabulous wines, craft beers and sweet and savory treats, while leaving a lasting impact on lung cancer treatment in Western New York and beyond.