Local Author and Cancer Survivor Raises $10K for Cancer Center

Author donates $10,000 to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC.

  (Houma, La.) –  Among the 700 authors at the Romantic Times Convention in New Orleans May 14-18 was Southern Louisiana journalist, Tina DeSalvo, who held a raffle and donated $10,000 to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC. A 6-year breast cancer survivor, DeSalvo attended the Convention to promote “Elli, A Second Chance Novel,” born of her journey to fight stage III breast cancer at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC “I used my fear, emotions, triumphs, and the experiences of the other cancer survivors and caregivers fighting cancer alongside me, to create Elli,” said the author of her inaugural novel. “It tells the story of life after cancer in that wonderful, difficult, joyful and fearful time after treatment ends as Elli tries to find her new normal.” While at the Convention, DeSalvo and authors Stella Barcelona and New York Times bestseller Cherry Adair held a raffle they called Friends Fight Together “for the biggest ticket items I have ever seen,” said Barbara Vey, contributing editor, Publisher’s Weekly.  With tickets selling at $15 for each of three 8-foot pirogues filled with items worth thousands of dollars, sales were brisk. In an interview May 16, DeSalvo talked about Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC and its mission with New Orleans WWL radio talk show host Angela Hill and announced her donation of all author proceeds to the Cancer Center to help women fighting breast cancer. “Tina formed friendships and bonds with Cancer Center team,  so much that the dogs in the book who were so loved and played a vital role in inspiring great lessons were given the names of three of Tina’s oncology nurses,” said Amy Ponson, director of development, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC. “We are very grateful and sincerely appreciate Tina’s contribution to help women fighting cancer in the Bayou Region.” “Elli, A Second Chance Novel” is available at Bent Pages Bookstore, 1422 Barrow St., Houma, LA, and on amazon.com.   Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC provides the full spectrum of cancer care, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship for those in the Bayou Region. Its services include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, as well as patient navigation, clinical trials and free community screenings. The Center is nationally accredited with commendation and recognized for excellence in cancer care by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.