The Drain for the Cure fundraiser surpassed a million dollars in donations today when a check for $144,706.78 was presented by Springfield Plastics to the SIU Simmons Cancer Institute.

In attendance were staff of Springfield Plastics, including President Steve Baker and Vice President Jennifer Furkin. Furkin shared that the 2014 inception of Drain for the Cure began because her cousin, a 34 year-old mother of three, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Unfortunately, after a two year battle, she ultimately lost her life. 

Also in attendance were the father and daughter duo from D&H Drainage Dale Himstedt and Jamie Sample. They became a part of the fundraiser 4 years ago with Grain for the Cure. This year their contribution was of about $26,000, bringing their grand total to about $106,000 raised.

Dr. Aziz Khan, the Executive Director of the Simmons Cancer Institute shared that the money raised  goes towards funding research for new ideas. Dr. Khan explained that it is very difficult to get funding for ideas that have no data to back them up. For every dollar spent on research they are able to obtain two and a half dollars in outside funding.

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