Sip for a Cause:
Supporting Oncology Research With Every Pour
In 2006, the Gonzmart Family added German Shepherd puppies Rusty and Enzi to their families. Rusty belonged to Richard, pictured at left. Enzi belonged to his daughter Andrea, at right. Rusty was devoted, clear-headed and protective. Enzi was loving, patient and strong.
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In 2011, Rusty unexpectedly fell ill. Local veterinarians told the Gonzmart family that their beloved dog had cancer and would only live a few more weeks. Heartbroken, Richard took the advice of a close friend to get a second opinion at UF Small Animal Hospital.
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There, researchers instead discovered that Rusty was suffering a rare fungal infection called aspergillosis.
At the time, this new diagnosis seemed like a second death sentence. Nearly 100% of dogs with aspergillosis lost their lives within a few months. However, medical teams with University of Florida and Moffitt Cancer Center miraculously extended Rusty’s life for another seven years, through regular treatments and medicines donated from Moffitt.
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In 2013, Andrea’s dog Enzi was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer. Her treatment lasted nine months, but sarcoma is a notoriously nefarious foe. Enzi sadly passed away on July 13, 2013.
Richard and his wife Melanie, grateful to the university for its dedication to their family dogs, began a relationship of supporting the UF Small Animal Hospital –– namely, their important oncology research.
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The Gonzmart Family Oncology Research Fund supports clinical trials on cancer vaccines for osteosarcoma. Sarcoma, the rare disease that shortened Enzi’s life, also is the number two cause of cancer in children. University of Florida’s groundbreaking vaccines have proven effective at shrinking tumors in mice and dogs, and now are being tested on human children. By treating sarcoma, doctors can prevent amputation and stop cancer from spreading.
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$10 will be donated from the sale of every bottle of Rusty & Enzi wine to the oncology research at the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital. A minimum of $20,000 will be donated annually to help find a cure for our four-legged family members.
To donate directly to the UF Gonzmart Family Oncology Research Fund, please visit the link below: