Ronnie James Dio, the heavy metallic music icon who succumbed to gastric most cancers in 2010, was honored right now — on what would have been his 83rd birthday — by the non-profit based in his reminiscence with the dedication of a room within the UCLA Middle for Oral/Head & Neck Oncology Analysis (COOR),embedded throughout the UCLA College of Dentistry.
The plaque outdoors the designated Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Saliva Storage Room was unveiled by Dio‘s widow Wendy Dio and Dr. David Wong, professor and director of the COOR. Members of the Board Of Administrators of the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Most cancers Fund had been current at a proper naming ceremony, amongst them board chair Tim Murch, Delilah Dio Gimenez, Sabrina Ment, founder-president Wendy Dio, Sean McNabb, Sharon Weisz, medical director Dr. Sandy Kapoor, Adam Parsons, Sheila Melody, Robin Shaw and Paul Newman.
Since 2016, the Dio Most cancers Fund has supported the analysis of Dr. Wong and his staff within the improvement of a non-invasive saliva check for most cancers, often known as EFIRM liquid biopsy, for the early detection of most cancers. The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Saliva Storage Room homes hundreds of samples used within the improvement of liquid biopsy. Dr. Wong‘s staff has already been awarded a five-year $4.6 million grant from the Nationwide Institutes Of Well being to advance liquid biopsy testing for the early detection of lung most cancers and has utilized for the same grant for analysis particularly into gastric most cancers.
The Dio Most cancers Fund lately hosted its “Rock For Ronnie” live performance within the park, now at its new house on the Autry Museum in Griffith Park, which introduced in over $100,000. Through direct donations and the annual “Rock For Ronnie” and the “Bowl For Ronnie”, this 12 months set for November 13 at PINZ Bowling Middle in Studio Metropolis, the music-based charity has raised greater than $2.5 million in its historical past.
“Ronnie‘s abdomen most cancers was detected far too late, and I do know that if the liquid biopsy obtainable again then, his most cancers might need been detected earlier and saved his life,” states Wendy Dio. “Due to Dr. Wong‘s analysis, it’s potential to think about a world the place a routine go to to your physician or dentist for a easy swab of saliva can save your life. We’re so grateful for Dr. Wong and his ardour and dedication to furthering this very important analysis.”
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Most cancers Fund is a privately funded 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to elevating consciousness and much-needed funding for most cancers prevention, training and analysis for a treatment.
In September 2021 interview with V13, Wendy Dio spoke in regards to the last months of the legendary singer’s life. Ronnie died of abdomen most cancers, additionally known as gastric most cancers, in Might 2010. The illness usually doesn’t trigger signs till its later levels. Normally, by the point abdomen most cancers is recognized, the prognosis is poor.
“We did not assume he was gona cross away; we by no means thought he was gonna cross away,” Wendy stated. “I imply, all of the instances he was having the remedy. Ultimately, we might go each two weeks and he’d have his chemo for six hours, and we might come again and we might skip down the hallways saying, ‘We’re killing the dragon. We’re right here to kill the dragon.’ We known as the most cancers the dragon.
“Three weeks earlier than he handed away, he was accepting an award from [Revolver] Golden Gods, and we simply did not assume — we all the time thought he was gonna make it; he all the time thought he was gonna make it. And it is simply such a horrible, horrible illness that simply takes everyone’s life; it would not care the place they arrive from.”
Wendy beforehand mentioned Ronnie‘s most cancers battle in a 2018 interview with the “Crimson Mild District Present”. Talking about her resolution to begin the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Most cancers Fund, which was established after his dying as a privately funded 501(c)(3) charity group devoted to most cancers prevention, analysis and training, she stated: “We attempt to inform individuals, particularly with males — ‘trigger ladies are fairly good about getting checked. So we attempt to educate that early detection saves lives, and we do attempt to educate everybody that and say that in all of our interviews and all of our conferences and issues that early detection saves lives. Please go and get examined. We’re working proper now with UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles], with Dr. Wong there, who’s growing a saliva check. So as an alternative of males going to get the conventional check, which is why they do not prefer to go, if you realize what I imply — they do not just like the finger… This will likely be an easy swab within the mouth after which despatched away and it’ll come again and tell us whether or not you might have both prostate most cancers, colon most cancers, pancreatic most cancers or abdomen most cancers, or not one of the above. So it is an excellent check. That means, individuals can get examined and get it at a really early stage. And if it is caught early, then the possibilities of survival and much, far higher.”
The Dio Most cancers Fund has raised in extra of $2.5 million up to now via its numerous annual occasions and direct help from the huge neighborhood of Dio followers worldwide. It’s their mission to assist eradicate this illness via training and through Wendy’s mantra: early detection saves lives.
“With pancreatic most cancers and abdomen most cancers, plenty of instances you do not know what’s improper with you till it is too late,” Wendy stated. “Ronnie had plenty of indigestion [a persistent or recurrent pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen], and really went to a specialist about seven years earlier than he handed with indigestion, and so they simply examined his coronary heart and examined all these different issues. However had I identified what I do know now, I’d have insisted he had a colonostomy and an ultrasound. However at the moment, we did not know something about most cancers, so we did not do it. After which he continued to take plenty of [over-the-counter antacid] Tums — he ate Tums on a regular basis due to his abdomen indigestion, which is what he thought he had.”
Ronnie‘s autobiography, titled “Rainbow In The Darkish: The Autobiography”, was launched in July 2021 through Permuted Press. It was written with longtime pal of 30 years and esteemed music author Mick Wall, who took up the mantle after Ronnie‘s passing.
Photographs beneath by Brian F. Lozano (courtesy of W3 Public Relations)
