Extending the olive branch to help cure cancer
photo: David NemerBill Wallace
Soon after retiring from a successful 30-year career with the office furniture company Steelcase in 2002, he and his wife, Jill, bought a five-acre estate in Sonoma, Calif. While completing a university’s “Master Gardener” program, the budding entrepreneur launched a second career by planting a few specimen olive trees evocative of Tuscany.
Soon after, in 2004, Wallace was diagnosed with papillary renal carcinoma, a rare form of kidney cancer.
Following two surgeries, the Wallaces planted 400 more trees and produced “Hawk’s Feather Oliveto” — their own olive oil varietal. Their involvement in the project provided a welcome respite in coping with Wallace’s health concerns.
The couple’s commitment to the orchard involved loved ones nationwide. Each year since, more than two dozen family members and friends have convened at the Wallace compound to pick olives— and the personalized efforts paid off. At the 2007 Los Angeles International Extra virgin Olive Oil competition, Hawk’s Feather Oliveto captured the gold as a domestic North Coast blend.
Unfortunately, the outlook for Wallace’s health was not as bright. His treatments failed to vanquish his spreading cancer. Through referrals from friends, including former White House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan Sr., Wallace was steered to the University of California, Los Angeles’ (UCLA) Robert A. Figlin, M.D., now the Arthur and Rosalie Kaplan Professor of Medical Oncology at City of Hope and acting director of City of Hope’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. While at UCLA, Figlin began to treat Wallace, enrolling him in a clinical trial that provided temporary improvement.
Now in his second clinical trial at City of Hope, Wallace is responding well to the new treatment. He has brought the same passion he has for olive oil to the fight against kidney cancer, and he encourages friends and business associates to help fund City of Hope’s research into the disease. “I’ve learned that current research advances into kidney cancer are helpful to other cancers, too, so supporting kidney cancer research essentially helps all kinds of cancer patients,” Wallace said.
As a tasty incentive, Wallace is offering a bottle of Hawk’s Feather Oliveto for every donation exceeding $500 made to the “Friends of William Wallace” kidney cancer research fund at City of Hope, while supplies last. “Research is critical to fighting cancer, and donating to City of Hope supports such efforts,” Wallace said.
For more information, contact City of Hope Gift Planning Officer 800-232-3314.