Former patient Cattie Clifft helped inspire a special promotion to benefit the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. (photo by Craig Clifft)
Restaurants team to benefit VICC
When Nashville restaurateur Craig Clifft's daughter, Cattie, was 22 months old, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer in which the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells, or lymphocytes, and is the most common form of leukemia in young children.
Specialists at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt treated Cattie and today, at 8, she is cancer-free.
To demonstrate his gratitude, Clifft and two of his fellow restaurant owners, Randy Rayburn and Brian Uhl, are donating a portion of their restaurant revenues to Vanderbilt-Ingram.
Rayburn is the owner of Sunset Grill and Midtown Café and a co-owner with Clifft and Uhl of Cabana restaurant.
During November, 10 percent of the value of the check for Vanderbilt faculty, students and staff who eat at Sunset Grill, Midtown Café and Cabana restaurants will be donated to Vanderbilt-Ingram. Diners must present a valid Vanderbilt ID to participate.
“We are honored to support cancer research at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center,” said Clifft. “In 1970, only about 4 percent of children diagnosed with ALL survived. Today nearly all children who are treated for this disease survive. This dramatic improvement in survival wouldn't be possible without cancer research, so this cause hits close to home.”