Cancer Support Team Raises More Than $300,000 at Mamaroneck Fundraiser
BY BILL DOESCHER
Cancer Support Team (CST) of Purchase raised more than $300,000 at its recent fundraising event at Hampshire Country Club while honoring two individuals whose lives and service have made a lasting impact on the organization and the cancer community.
CST Executive Director Tania Weiss confirmed the fundraising total from the evening, which drew more than 200 supporters from across Westchester County and beyond.
Honored during the event were Rupert Walters, a dedicated CST board member for more than 40 years and former Board Chair, and Dr. T. Peter Kingham of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, an internationally recognized cancer surgeon and researcher. Walters received the Barbara Melmed Memorial Award, while Dr. Kingham received the Wald-Lee Vision Award.
The evening carried special meaning for both honorees. Walters’ late son, Adrian Walters, and Dr. Kingham were childhood friends who grew up together in the Larchmont/Mamaroneck area. Adrian passed away from cancer in 2010 at the age of 37, making the recognition especially poignant for both families.
Walters’ connection to Cancer Support Team dates back to the organization’s early years. In 1986, CST co-founder Gayle Lee approached him with a simple request: “CST needs a businessman on the Board.” Walters joined as Treasurer and remained deeply involved with the organization for decades, serving most recently as Board Chair from 2023 to 2025. His guiding philosophy throughout his life and service has been: “Make things better.”
Dr. Kingham earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his medical degree from SUNY Stony Brook. He completed his general surgery residency at New York University and has served since 2015 as Director of the Global Cancer Research and Training Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Promoted to Professor in 2022, Dr. Kingham’s work focuses on improving cancer care in low- and middle-income countries. He serves as co-principal investigator on multiple prospective studies in Nigeria and has authored more than 420 peer-reviewed publications and 18 book chapters.
The evening also highlighted the broad community support behind Cancer Support Team’s mission. Westchester County Legislators Nancy Barr and Anant Nambiar were on hand to offer proclamations to both honorees. Guests throughout the evening spoke passionately about CST’s work supporting individuals and families facing cancer. Cancer Support Team provides free professional support services to anyone affected by cancer in Westchester County.