Tickets on Sale Now, Karmanos Cancer Institute's 3rd Annual Classic Cars for the Cure

DETROIT, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is gearing up for the third annual Classic Cars for the Cure on Saturday, Sept. 20. Tickets are now available for this high-energy evening highlighting Michigan's love of automobiles. This year's event will support cancer research at Karmanos.

"We are honored to invite our friends in Detroit, throughout Southeast Michigan and worldwide, to a special event," Deborah Savoie, Karmanos Cancer Institute Board of Directors, said. "This year's Classic Cars for the Cure is something we all will long remember. And while we are having a truly wonderful time with friends who love cars, we are also helping raise funds needed for local cancer research."

Classic Cars for the Cure has evolved into a must-attend annual event. The gala is held indoors in a private garage. Guests will enjoy a strolling supper designed by Forte Belanger, live '50s and '60s music by Stella and her band Intrigue, a performance along with dance and swing lessons from the Oakland University Dance Team, and dessert served in a 1950s diner. They can also get up close and personal with the remarkable classic automobiles that are rarely seen on the streets today.

"People who love cars appreciate the special nature of their favorite automobiles," Savoie said. "Like real people, we think each auto has a unique personality. And, like people, every car tells a story. They'll hear those stories from the collectors as they walk up to view each car's profile."

Al Trombetta, Classic Cars for the Cure automobile curator and local car aficionado, has assembled 25 rare classic cars from museums and top collectors. As a classic car collector himself, Trombetta's mother died of lung cancer, so assisting in this event is near and dear to his heart.

"We are impressed and very appreciative of Al's commitment to bring the community together for a Motor City-style event and raise funds for the critical research that our investigators do at Karmanos," said Debra Partrich, Karmanos Cancer Institute Board of Directors. "Our physicians and researchers work daily to give patients the best opportunities they have in the fight against hundreds of cancers by discovering new therapies. Attending this event not only gives Michiganders an up-close look at some unique and classic cars, and interaction with the owners and fellow spectators who love high-quality vehicles, but it also brings in money to help Karmanos doctors and investigators continue to discover better treatment options for our loved ones, friends and neighbors."

The exhibition will also include several concept cars, automotive designers' dreams that dazzle the imagination.

There are several new "interactive" features for this year's Classic Cars for the Cure, including "What's My Line," an opportunity for guests to learn more about Karmanos' research and speak with researchers about their work.

Among the speakers for the evening will be Boris Pasche, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, president and CEO at Karmanos. Dr. Pasche joined Karmanos in August 2023 and holds the title of principal investigator of the National Cancer Institute's Comprehensive Cancer Center Core Grant and the chair of the Department of Oncology at Wayne State University's School of Medicine. His goal for Karmanos is to become an undeniable leader in cancer research and treatment discoveries. He works closely with Karmanos physicians, scientists and clinical trials principal investigators to elevate and expand the amount of research currently taking place at the cancer center in Detroit.

Dr. Pasche is an experienced medical oncologist who specializes in treating gastrointestinal malignancies and hereditary cancer. His research focuses on cancer susceptibility and new therapies. In 2023, a medical device Dr. Pasche co-invented, TheraBionic P1, was approved by the FDA to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer. Currently, Karmanos is conducting a study using the TheraBionic P1 device, which is available for patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Classic Cars for the Cure takes place on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at 1330 North Crooks Rd in Clawson. Guests are asked to wear cocktail attire or 1950s and 1960s flair.

Tickets are $250 each. For more details on the event and to purchase tickets, visit karmanos.org/cars25.

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Karmanos Cancer Institute is a leader in transformative cancer care, research and education through courage, commitment and compassion. The Karmanos vision is a world free of cancer. As part of McLaren Health Care, Karmanos is the largest provider of cancer care and research in Michigan. For more than 75 years, the administrative and research headquarters, along with the premier specialty cancer hospital, have been located in downtown Detroit. With multiple network sites, Karmanos delivers world-renowned care and access to clinical trials throughout Michigan and northern Ohio. The National Cancer Institute recognizes Karmanos as one of the best cancer centers in the nation with a comprehensive cancer center designation. Its academic partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine provides the framework for cancer research and education – defining new standards of care and improving survivorship. For more information, call 1-800-KARMANOS (800-527-6266) or visit karmanos.org. Follow Karmanos on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute