Bob Saget, Michael Che, Dana Delany, John Oliver and Jeff Ross Along With Top Chef Masters Raise Nearly $800,000 at Cool Comedy- Hot Cuisine New York.

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Dec 15, 2016, 01:30 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Comedians, chefs and philanthropists at Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine, the 12^th Annual New York gala to benefit the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF), raised nearly $800,000 for scleroderma research on, Mon., December 12 at Carolines on Broadway.

The event, hosted by Bob Saget, an SRF Board Member who lost his sister to scleroderma, was joined in the fundraising effort for this life-threatening disease by fellow SRF Board Member Dana Delany, who co-hosted the auction with Bob, followed by the brilliant and hilarious comedians Michael Che, John Oliver, and Jeff Ross.

Presented by Actelion Pharmaceuticals, along with event sponsors The Arthur Zimtbaum Foundation, Andrew and Violetta Merin, Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine benefits the Scleroderma Research Foundation—America's first and leading nonprofit investor in medical research to find improved therapies and a cure for people living with scleroderma. The "Hot Cuisine" for the evening was provided by Bravo's Top Chef Masters Susan Feniger, an SRF Board Member, and Mary Sue Milliken who treated guests to a multi-course dinner with dishes from their highly acclaimed Border Grill Restaurants and featured the wine of event sponsor Rombauer Vineyards

"I was overwhelmed by the generosity in the room. From my friends who generously donate their time and talent to the many giving individuals who helped us raise nearly $800,000, it was an amazing night. I am deeply proud of the impact Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine has on the Scleroderma Research Foundation's ability to fund the most promising medical research." says Saget. "Until a cure is found, I will continue to dedicate my life to putting an end to this disease, it's what I must do, it's we what we must do for the patients."

The success of Cool Comedy – Hot Cuisine events held in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco has raised considerable awareness for scleroderma and enabled the SRF to fund innovative research bringing hope and helping to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from this debilitating disease. Since its founding in 1987, the Foundation has taken a collaborative approach, bringing together some of the brightest minds in science to unravel the mystery of this complex autoimmune disease.

More about Scleroderma and the Scleroderma Research Foundation:

The word scleroderma literally means "hard skin," but the disease is much more than that, often affecting the internal organs with life-threatening consequences. In some cases, the joints and muscles are affected, resulting in severe pain and limited mobility. Vascular damage due to scleroderma can result in loss of fingers, toes and entire limbs.

The symptoms and severity of scleroderma vary from one person to another and the course of the disease is often unpredictable. Women are disproportionately affected with scleroderma (representing four out of five patients), usually striking in the prime of their lives, between the ages of 20 and 50; however, children and men of all ages and across all ethnic boundaries can also be affected.

Today, there is no way to prevent scleroderma and there is no cure. Treatments are available for some but not all of the most serious complications. However, with a research program led by a world-class Scientific Advisory Board the SRF is bringing new hope for patients. The continued success of the Scleroderma Research Foundation is entirely dependent upon charitable gifts from individuals and corporations. Dr. Fredrick Wigley, Director of the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center states in the Project Scleroderma video, "the SRF has made an incredible difference, and I am absolutely convinced with the right support there is nothing that can't be done."

The SRF was established in San Francisco in 1987 by scleroderma patient Sharon Monsky. The Foundation began with a passionate commitment that lives on today: to use the power of collaborative medical research to advance a cure for scleroderma. Chaired by Luke Evnin, Ph.D., managing partner of MPM Capital, a dedicated investor in life sciences, the Foundation is enabling scientists from leading institutions across the nation and around the world to work together and develop an understanding of how the disease begins, how it progresses and what can be done to slow, halt or reverse the disease process.

SOURCE Scleroderma Research Foundation