Tonie Renner Gentile grew up in Granville, surrounded by family, community, and a love for music. Since she lived right across the river from the WVU Coliseum, she enjoyed listening to the Mountaineer Marching Band practice playing “Country Roads.”
Shortly after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Tonie passed away at the age of 52. In her memory, her family launched a concert series that honors her passion for music while supporting cancer prevention and early detection in partnership with the WVU Cancer Institute.
This year’s concert will be held July 26 at the Westover VFW and feature a lineup including Wade Hayes, Copper Crossing, and Andrew Kidd. A special guest traveling from Connecticut, 10-year-old singer-songwriter Remy Adair, will open the show. Doors open at 6 p.m., with music beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Last year’s inaugural event raised $10,200 for the WVU Cancer Institute. This year, the goal is to match or exceed that amount. All proceeds go directly to the Tonie Renner Gentile Breast Cancer Research Fund, which supports student research dedicated to breast cancer.
“We sincerely appreciate the generous support from Tonie’s Fund, which makes it possible for undergraduate students to engage in meaningful summer research in breast cancer at the WVU Cancer Institute,” Alexey Ivanov, Ph.D., WVU Cancer Institute researcher, said. “This funding provides an invaluable opportunity for young scientists to gain hands-on experience, contribute to cancer research, and be inspired to pursue careers in biomedical science.”
Colin Carey, a rising WVU sophomore majoring in immunology and medical microbiology, received aid from the Tonie Renner Gentile Breast Cancer Research Fund to participate in the WVU Cancer Institute’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Originally from Morgantown, Carey is conducting research focused on triple-negative breast cancer.
“I would love to say thank you,” Carey said. “Thank you for supporting me and my journey in research. It’s an incredible opportunity, and I am deeply grateful for everyone who has helped me along my way.”
Mark Gentile, Tonie’s husband of 27 years, said his goal is to help other families conquer cancer through early detection. He created a nonprofit organization, Tonie’s Fund, with a mission rooted in fighting the fear and stigma surrounding early diagnosis.
He said his wife suspected something was wrong, but she waited too long to seek treatment. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in July 2022 and passed away on Feb. 7, 2023.
“I truly believe that Tonie was so afraid to go and get the diagnosis because she was afraid of those aggressive types of treatment plans, when it turns out she actually was eligible for a lot of different treatment plans that weren’t as invasive,” Mark Gentile said. “If we can find a way through our educational program to prevent that from happening, then that’s what Tonie’s Fund is all about.”
At each concert held in Tonie’s honor, the atmosphere is centered around celebration, remembrance, and community. One of the most meaningful elements is a tribute wall that honors people affected by cancer.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of cancer you are impacted by; we pay tribute to everybody,” Gentile said.
The wall serves as a space for attendees to remember loved ones, recognize survivors, and support those currently battling cancer. It’s a visual and emotional reminder of the concert’s deeper purpose: raising awareness, encouraging early detection, and uniting people through shared experiences.
Tickets and information about the July 26 concert benefit are available at ToniesFund.org. Supporters can honor a loved one who has been diagnosed with cancer on the concert’s tribute wall by contacting Mark Gentile at mgentile@toniesfund.org.
