Fighting the good fight against cancer at the Broken Egg

Angelina Jolie, Jerry Lewis, and Dick Vitale all have one thing in common.

They use their enormous celebrity for good works. Jolie is known as a U.N. goodwill ambassador for refugees; has donated millions, with her partner, Brad Pitt, to AIDS research; and they have adopted lots of children.

Lewis has his Labor Day telethon for Muscular Dystrophy.

And Vitale has raised millions of dollars for cancer research.

However, only one of them holds court at the Broken Egg at Lakewood Ranch.

"This is my office away from home," Vitale said Tuesday evening, pointing to a table just outside the front entrance. At that table, the recent Basketball Hall of Fame inductee will read six or seven newspapers a day, conduct business for ESPN, and sign memorabilia for fans.

During a Lakewood Ranch Digital Village event at the Broken Egg, 6115 Exchange Way, Tuesday, more than 100 people swarmed around Vitale to get an autographed basketball, bobblehead doll, book or T-shirt.

All the proceeds went to The V Foundation for Cancer Research. "I am obsessed with it," Vitale said of the effort to raise $75 million for cancer research. "The only way to beat it is through cancer research."

Patrick Kopfle, general manager at the Broken Egg, stood near the register and a picture on the wall of a little girl who lost her life to cancer last year, Payton Wright.

"We love him here. He does so much for the community and he is so energetic," Kopfle said.

Dawn Hair, the catering director for the Broken Egg, said Payton's story resonates with her because the Wright family frequently brought Payton to the restaurant. And Hair's daughter was born just one day after Payton.

Payton's story carries with it the message that cancer can hit anyone at anytime, Hair said. The restaurant still has a collection can at the register for anyone who wants to make a donation in Payton's name. One or two dollars at a time, that can has raised more than $4,000 for the fight against cancer, she said.

Larry and Jahna Leinhauser were among those at the Broken Egg, and were moved by Vitale's words and actions. "He's very inspiring," Larry Leinhauser said.

Maybe doubly so considering that Leinhauser and Manatee Emergency Medical Services recently lost a friend and colleague to cancer. James Gaunt died of bone cancer, leaving behind a wife and three children.

"His biggest heartbreak was that he wouldn't be around to see his kids into adulthood," Leinhauser said.

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Aweswome baby: Look for this new coffee table book coming soon to a book store near you: Dick Vitale's "Fabulous 50 Players & Moments in College Basketball." The book will also be available at www.dickvitaleonline.com.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee editor, can be reached at 708-7916. The Herald's east office is at 11121 State Road 70 E., Lakewood Ranch.