Robin Roberts was overcome with emotion on Good Morning America last month, when she and fellow anchor Lara Spencer honored the staff at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the leading hospitals for cancer research in New York City.
Roberts, 63, found the segment extremely emotional on a personal level, as she and wife Amber Laign, 49, have both battled cancer in the past. Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and went into remission. Five years later, she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood and bone marrow disease. She underwent a successful bone marrow transplant in September 2012 thanks to her sister Sally-Ann, who was a virtually perfect match.
In 2021, Roberts told fans that Laign had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and was very open about how she was struggling to see her go through it. Roberts said it was much harder for her to witness her loved one go through it than to go through it herself, telling Ellen in 2022: “I went through it twice, barely shed a tear. I’m a puddle every time I think about what Amber is going through. But she is being so courageous and is handling it extremely well.” Roberts took to Instagram in July 2022 to let fans know the good news that Laign had finished her radiation treatment, and shared a video of her ringing the bell in celebration.
Billionaires Make $400M Donation To Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
American hedge fund manager, entrepreneur and investor Kenneth C. Griffin, and David Geffen, the co-founder of DreamWorks Animation and several record labels, announced that they would be donating $400M to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. It is the largest single donation in MSK's nearly 150-year history.
Griffin said in a statement that he and Geffen are "honored" to support those "advancing breakthroughs in research and treatment and the outstanding nurses and staff who dedicate their lives to providing compassionate care to those impacted by this disease."
Roberts and Spencer welcomed Griffin onto the December 12th episode of the show, which also saw the donation being made to MSK's CEO Dr. Selwyn Vickers.
Robin Roberts And Lara Spencer Can't Hold Back Tears Following $400M Donation
"It's unbelievable the difference it will make in so many lives," Spencer said to Griffin, through tears. She then asked: "Why was this so important for you to donate in such a large number that will make such a huge difference?"
Griffin replied: "All of us here dream of the day we end cancer. I'm certain MSK will play an important role in ending cancer in our lifetime. But until that day, the team at MSK give the patients that are enduring cancer hope, dignity, and compassion in their care. All of the work that you do to help the patients at MSK beat cancer and find their lives again is God's work. Thank you so much."
Roberts couldn't hold back the tears as she noted that everyone has been impacted by cancer in their lives one way or another. She then asked Vickers after he was presented with the check: "Dr. Vickers, just talk about $400 million. How is that going to help your team achieve what it is that you want to achieve?"
"This gift is transformative. Not only is it the largest but it means so much at this time," Vickers said. “I personally want to thank Ken for being here and David, if he's watching, for allowing these resources to move forward to what I think is a treasure in American healthcare.”
Roberts then made a joke of how many people were crying during the segment, and said: "Our crew doesn't have Kleenex for us? Tissues? How can we do a segment like this and they don't have any tissues for us? The one time!"
Health care workers at @MSKCancerCenter receive a $400 million donation from billionaires Kenneth C. Griffin and David Geffen, the largest gift in the institution’s history: “I am certain that MSK will play an important role in ending cancer in our lifetime.” pic.twitter.com/fJw15lxg5s
— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 12, 2023
Fan Comments
Viewers were also overcome with emotion after watching the segment, and took to various social media platforms to express their gratitude for the donation. "I am a Cancer survivor too. I can understand the emotion of this donation," wrote one viewer in the comments section to a short YouTube clip of the segment. "Thank you so much for this huge donation," wrote one fan, as another concurred: "Wow, thank you is not enough! Thank you everyone!" "What a great job. God bless you all," wrote another. "Give them Kleenex!" exclaimed another.
Commenting on a Good Morning America post on X, formerly Twitter, one person wrote: "Where are the tissues… What a wonderful gift. God bless ALL the warriors at MSK." "This is just wonderful! What a generous gift! I am crying tears of joy as a 6-year survivor of laryngeal cancer. Blessings to all," commented another. Someone else called the donation "Phenomenal and generous."
