Food and wine benefit to raise funds for lung cancer research

The Janice McArdle Cancer Research Foundation will sponsor its inaugural Food and Wine Benefit from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at White Eagle Golf Club, 3400 Club Drive, Naperville.

Author and celebrity chef Jenn Stoker will join other top chefs from Heaven on Seven, Rosebud, Sullivan's Steak House and White Eagle Golf Club to share their signature dishes along with specially paired wines.

In addition to a silent auction with prize packages, a live cult wine auction will feature selections from Screaming Eagle, Bond, Colgin, Harlan Estate, Ovid, Shafer and Sloan. Sarah Knight Adamson, nationally syndicated film critic, will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening.

"We wanted to do something unique this year, something that would stand out from the typical fundraiser," said Dr. George McArdle, who started the foundation after his wife, Jannie, lost her battle with nonsmoking lung cancer in 2008.

"My daughters work in Napa Valley and we have connections with some of the restaurants here, so we decided to marry those connections."

The event is being held in lieu of the foundation's annual golf outing.

"This is a very special event," said coordinator Judy Phillip of Extra Edge. "Each restaurant will offer small-plated meals along with a wine pairing from Spring Mountain Vineyard and other select Napa Valley wineries. For the live auction, we are bringing in some of the finest cult wines available."

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

McArdle hopes to change that. To date, the Janice McArdle Cancer Research Foundation has raised more than $300,000 for nonsmoking lung cancer research.

"It's personally important to me because my wife passed away from nonsmoking lung cancer," McArdle said. "Lung cancer research is so terribly underfunded, that is the reason we are doing this."

Proceeds will fund innovative research to develop early detection methods and advanced treatment techniques, and ultimately find a cure for nonsmoker lung cancer.

Tickets are $125. Black-tie optional. Sponsorships are available. For details, visit www.jannieshope.org.