The countdown to “Splat Out Cancer” has officially begun. After months of preparation, the large-scale fundraising event dedicated to raising $1 million for the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center (JGBCC) is set to kickoff Aug. 29 on the corner of Sixth and Market streets in downtown Louisville.

With the goal of 1,000-plus balloons being launched from catapults in one day, the “Splat Out Cancer” team is preparing to use over 50 gallons of Benjamin Moore’s Aura^® Exterior paint to create one of the largest community-generated works of art in Louisville history.

“You get to do good and be bad,” said Jerry Preyss, CEO of Scoppechio, the Louisville-based ad agency that created and is overseeing the execution of Splat Out Cancer. “For $25 bucks you get to launch a balloon filled with paint and see it splat against a giant wall. And nobody gets arrested. Now how much fun is that?”

Currently the JGBCC has over 165 cancer trials in process, and nearly a third of those are new, groundbreaking treatments developed by JGBCC researchers.

“We rely heavily on philanthropic dollars to move many of our most promising drugs and therapies into human clinical trials,” said JGBCC Director Donald Miller, M.D., Ph.D. “The money from this event will be used exclusively to accelerate research projects to the clinical trials. One million dollars can help transfer multiple projects out of the lab into a Phase 1 clinical stage trial.”

“We have a sense of urgency at UofL,” said UofL President James R. Ramsey. “We need to take translational research to the clinic to improve the quality of life for people with cancer. The support for Splat Out Cancer will enable us to take the research to the clinic and move forward. We are proud to be part of this initiative and the work being done at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center.”

“Every dollar donated by sponsors, groups and participants goes directly to reaching the goal of $1 million. And besides the activities on the 29^th, there will be other components to this program to raise the $1 million,” Preyss added.

Event sponsors include Benjamin Moore Paints, the Yum! Brands Foundation, KFC, Interapt, Outfront Media, KentuckyOne Health, Humana, LG&E-KU, Onco360, Old National Bank, NPC Internatonal and Babs and Lee Robinson.

“We are so thankful for the generous involvement and donations from our sponsors and, particularly, Benjamin Moore,” said Scoppechio Founder and Executive Chairman and UofL Board of Trustees Member Debbie Scoppechio. “As a four-time cancer survivor, this initiative hits home for me. In fact, I believe one of the reasons I’m alive today is because of the work being done at the JGBCC.”

With nine Benjamin Moore retail locations in the Louisville area, the paint maker is playing a critical role in Splat Out Cancer with its expertise, donated paint and coordinated fundraising efforts in all Benjamin Moore area stores.

The festivities begin at 11 a.m. at Sixth and Main with inaugural splats by local figures, James Graham Brown Cancer Center doctors and cancer survivors. Decked out in a lab coat and goggles, groups and individuals will be able to splat throughout the day from one of three giant balloon launchers that will target a framed canvas on the wall of 539 W. Market St. Other activities include a kid’s area splat wall, photo wall, food trucks and booths with information and fun giveaways. Local celebrities, mascots and Louisville sports teams representatives also will be in attendance.

The film production company 180 Degrees Film will shoot throughout the day for an upcoming documentary about Splat Out Cancer. The company's “Cancer Confessions” booth also will allow people the opportunity to share their personal cancer story.

Individuals and groups who preregister with donations on SplatOutCancer.com also will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

“The Louisville community is extraordinary in the way it supports the great sports teams at the University. At the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, they are doing championship work in the field of cancer research. It’s important to support them too and bring visibility to what they are doing to beat cancer. We are looking forward to seeing a lot of people on the 29^th,” Preyss said.

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