Mom's legacy lives on through fundraising for UT MD Anderson

Last updated March 19, 2026

Alex Heard’s mom, Kelli, was his best friend.

“When I was younger, I would lie on her and watch TV,” he recalls. “She always wanted to hear my stories and give me advice.”

Unfortunately, Kelli was diagnosed with an advanced kidney cancer called clear cell renal cell carcinoma in October 2018. And, after undergoing immunotherapy and chemotherapy, and participating in clinical trials, she passed away 13 months later. But in that short time, her big personality meant she became well-known at UT MD Anderson and where she lived near Beaumont, Texas.

“She was a quick-witted, hilarious woman, and she loved UT MD Anderson,” Alex says. “She spoke so highly of the doctors there. It means everything to me that we still have a connection to them.”

Donors ‘absolutely critical’ to UT MD Anderson’s mission

During her illness, Kelli made UT MD Anderson’s mission her own. Kelli worked at her local Pappadeaux, part of the Pappas family of restaurants, which has raised $1.6 million for UT MD Anderson since 2015.

“With every single person she served, she'd bring it up and try to educate them on the importance of supporting cancer research. It was very, very, very important to her,” says Alex.

That importance is echoed by urologic oncologist Jose Karam, M.D., who was on Kelli’s care team at UT MD Anderson.

“Fundraising from corporate and individual donors like Pappas and their customers is absolutely critical to advancing UT MD Anderson’s mission,” says Karam. “We apply for national grants, but it’s extremely competitive. We are deeply grateful for what Kelli and her colleagues have done for UT MD Anderson.”

Thanks to advances led by UT MD Anderson researchers, there are now more options to treat kidney cancer. For instance, some renal cell carcinoma patients who were previously ineligible for surgery now have surgery options, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug belzutifan for some adults with advanced disease.

Pappas honors Kelli

Kelli had a particularly aggressive kidney cancer that had already spread to other parts of her body when it was discovered. That meant treatment was extremely difficult, but her care team was able to keep her well enough to enjoy her work and be with her family, friends and co-workers throughout most of her illness.

Five years after Kelli’s death, her colleagues still remember her impact on their community. A trophy bearing her name is given out each year to the Pappas restaurant that raises the most funds for UT MD Anderson.

“When I see it and the photo they put up of her, obviously I get sad, but I feel mostly happiness because I know her legacy will always live on through the trophy,” Alex says. “She will live on through all the lives she touched and the people she met. I always tell people who have lost loved ones, even though they’re gone, you carry them around with you.”

Pappas diners can support UT MD Anderson's mission to end cancer by sharing their reason to end cancer and donating when they dine at any Pappas restaurant in the United States March 11-31, 2026.

Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.