Barrett-Jackson classic car auction raises $140,000 for TGen cancer research

What do a classic '79 Cutlass, Best Actress nominee Sharon Stone and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) all have in common?

They combined in January to raise $140,000 for TGen's colon and prostate cancer research at the 44th annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction at WestWorld in Scottsdale.

Stone, a special guest at this year's Barrett-Jackson, took the auction stage Jan. 15 with microphone in hand to urge ever-higher bids on a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Hurst Coupe once owned by Linda Vaughn—known in racing circles as Miss Hurst Golden Shifter.

Her calls to the bidding audience generated a $140,000 sale, benefiting the Barrett-Jackson Cancer Research Fund at TGen, in Memory of Russ and Brian Jackson. The fund, established in 2010, is a salute to auction Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson's father, Russ, and brother, Brian, whose lives were cut short by colon cancer.

This Cutlass previously raised $470,000 for TGen. It was sold at the 43rd annual auction in Scottsdale and then was gifted back to the auction. It was sold again—then gifted back, again—at Barrett-Jackson's April event in Palm Beach, Fla. The third sale in January brought to more than $600,000 the total amount that this one classic car has raised for TGen research.

"Sharon Stone's star-power and charisma helped make the charity sale for TGen this year a truly memorable occasion, and helped raise the public's awareness of TGen and its groundbreaking scientific discoveries," said Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson. "The vehicles that cross the block to benefit charities continue Barrett-Jackson's long tradition of making a difference."

Over the years, charity car sales at Barrett-Jackson events have produced more than $1 million in total contributions to TGen research. Total charitable giving for all causes by Barrett-Jackson over the years has topped $77 million.

Craig Jackson has acted as a national spokesperson for TGen, spreading the word about how the institute's research may lead to better treatments for cancer patients, and with continued support could one day lead to a cure.

"Craig Jackson's leadership brought award-winning actress Sharon Stone and automotive icon Linda Vaughn to join his quest to advance cancer research at TGen," said TGen Foundation President Michael Bassoff. "We remain extremely grateful that Craig has chosen to honor his father, Russ, and brother, Brian, in this special way."

More than 93,000 Americans will be diagnosed in 2015 with colon and rectal cancer, and nearly 50,000 patients will succumb to this disease, which after lung cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.

An additional 220,000 American men this year will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which this year will kill more than 27,000 patients, the fourth-leading cause of cancer death among men in the U.S.

Provided by The Translational Genomics Research Institute