Country singer Brett Eldredge headlines this year's Treads & Threads gala at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, a black-tie fundraiser that has pumped more than $25 million into cancer care and research since 2002. The gala includes food and entertainment, and the event is restricted to guests 21 and older.
The gala, organized by the University of Kansas Health System, raises money for the University of Kansas Cancer Center to support patient care, research and the future of cancer treatment in the region, according to FOX4KC. The outlet also reports plans for a new global destination cancer center, with the Emerald City Band performing after Eldredge takes the stage.
That destination facility is already underway. The University of Kansas Cancer Center broke ground in May 2025 on a $575 million campus at 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas, according to KU Endowment, with completion slated for fall 2027. The project is designed to bring researchers and clinicians together.
A Fundraising Record Built Year Over Year
A Fundraising Record Built Year Over Year The 2023 Treads & Threads gala raised $2.3 million for patient care and research, according to Pulse Design Group. The gala has also featured touring acts, including Lee Brice in 2023.
The black-tie evening has presenting sponsors including JE Dunn Construction, KBP Brands, Polsinelli and PYA. Treads & Threads is also a fundraising event.
Big Philanthropy and Public Dollars Behind the New Campus
The new cancer center has drawn philanthropic and public attention. Public officials have also discussed the project.
Cancer research at the center is supported by a range of funding sources. Gala donations and larger capital gifts also support the center.
Why the Region Needs More Capacity
The National Cancer Institute awarded the University of Kansas Cancer Center its Comprehensive Cancer Center status in July 2022, placing it among roughly 53 to 57 top-tier cancer centers nationwide, according to KCUR. That designation unlocked nearly $14 million in direct federal research grants for the center.
The center's primary catchment area includes 4.5 million people, according to the University of Kansas Cancer Center. Kansas Speedway itself, the gala's longtime venue, is a 1,250-acre, 1.5-mile tri-oval speedway with a grandstand capacity of 48,000 in Kansas City, Kansas, per Wikipedia.
The University of Kansas Cancer Center serves regional patients and conducts cancer research.
