Magic’s Pat Williams makes pitch for $25 million for myeloma center
Three years ago, Orlando Magic co-founder and Vice President Pat Williams got a bad call. The 73-year-old learned he had multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects the bone marrow, and specifically the white blood cells. Now in remission, Williams is on a mission. Today, at the Magic home game against the Houston Rockets, Williams will ask basketball fans whether they want to get behind his “Magic One More Time” fundraising effort to create the Multiple Myeloma Center at Florida Hospital Orlando.
It would be Central Florida’s first, said Williams, who lives in Winter Park and received his successful cancer treatment at Florida Hospital.
Williams aims to raise $25 million during the next five years for the dedicated center and already has several corporate sponsors committed to the cause.
Last month news came out that Tom Brokaw, the 74-year-old former anchor of the “NBC Nightly News,” had multiple myeloma and has been undergoing successful treatment.
Every year 22,000 Americans learn they have multiple myeloma, according to the American Cancer Society, and about half that many die of the disorder.
The disease is more common in men, and most often strikes in older Americans.
Patients who receive treatment at a comprehensive center have much greater chance of survival, research shows.
Though the disease has no cure yet, it can go into remission with proper treatment. Left untreated, it can cause bone fractures, renal failure and severe fatigue.
“There is not a center in the Southeast dedicated solely to multiple myeloma,” said Williams.
The $25 million will go toward renovating an existing building at the hospital to accommodate the center, and toward hiring top myeloma experts.
“We are getting a complete research and treatment center,” he said.