UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 14

giving back

Vicki Denaburg
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
By H I L A R Y M E A R E S

Birmingham artist Vicki Denaburg does not
know why she agreed to participate in the
first ArtBLINK Gala in February 2008. She
had only been painting a few years, and she
was extremely nervous to paint in front of
an audience who would be bidding on her art
right in front of her eyes. “The other artists
were such big names,” Mrs. Denaburg says.
“I wasn’t even close to their league.”

each year. She has become one of the more involved

ArtBLINK artists, having participated every year and

serving as a leader on the event’s planning committee.
A unique aspect of ArtBLINK is that guests can

watch and interact with the artists as they work, and

Mrs. Denaburg – typically dressed in a beautiful gown
– is always popular with guests. “My favorite part of

the Gala is when people stop me to talk while I paint.
People always make fun of me because I love to dress

up, and I always buy a new dress to paint in,” she says.
But, for some reason, she could not say no. So Mrs.

“They always ask me if I’m afraid to ruin it while

Denaburg joined 10 other local artists to participate

I paint. Of course not! That’s why I buy them.”

ArtBLINK Gala, in which each artist had 90 minutes

Mrs. Denaburg personally. In 2013, she lost her

off to raise money for cancer research. At the time,

2015. Her father recently survived a battle with cancer

connection that drew her to the event. “I participated

so early on to participate,” she says. “God told me to

opportunities to help people, and I knew this was a

hits closer to home.”

in the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center’s first

Like so many people, cancer eventually affected

to create a piece of art that would then be auctioned

mother-in-law to cancer, and her sister-in-law in May

Mrs. Denaburg did not have a personal cancer

and is now cancer-free. “Maybe this is why I was led

because every day people are supposed to find

say yes to the event for this reason, and now my story

wonderful cause,” she recalls.

Leading up to the event, Mrs. Denaburg, a former

because every
day people are
supposed to find
opportunities
to help people,
and I knew this
was a wonderful
cause.”

Mrs. Denaburg had always planned on

participating in the event for as long as the Cancer

make-up artist, practiced for weeks and weeks. “I was

Center hosts it, but now she has personal experience

husband prepared my father-in-law to buy my painting

mother-in-law in 2014, and she plans on painting

painting was ready to be auctioned off, paddles shot up

event. “I feel blessed and humbled to be able to be a

needless to say, her father-in-law didn’t have to buy it.

help other families have a less difficult time, and if I

one of Birmingham’s most popular and unique events,

then I will.”

so nervous about being embarrassed that my sweet

she will bring with her. She painted in honor of her

just in case no one wanted it,” she says. But when her

in honor of her father and sister-in-law at this year’s

in the air. Her painting sold for $4,000 that day, and

part of this event,” she says. “If I can do anything to

In the following years, ArtBLINK has grown into

“I participated

can help the Cancer Center get closer to finding cures,

and it is something Mrs. Denaburg looks forward to

24

U A B

C O M P R E H E N S I V E

C A N C E R

C E N T E R

# K N O W U A B C C C

•

U A B . E D U / C A N C E R

25