UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) -  Tonight, television's top three networks will stand together to raise funds for cancer research and although it is a national campaign, some of those dollars are integral to research and treatment done right here.

It is places like the Regional Cancer Center in Utica that rely on research funding. Just over 800 people came through the center for cancer treatment in 2007. treatment that includes clinical trials and about 4 percent of those treated here are part of research funded studies.

The majority of the work done in Utica includes drugs that have been proven successful in some types of cancer. Doctors then test to see the effectiveness on other types.

these tests are done to discover better treatments for patients in the future and something you may not know, 90 percent of all children treated for cancer participate in these clinical trials.

So why is it important to get involved? Perhaps it is best summed up by someone who knows all too well the journey of cancer, a patient.

"It's likely if you don't know someone at this point that has cancer then you will and I think to take measures now and be able to work for a cure or a better treatment," says David Eghigian.

Some might say in an unimaginable twist of fate David's wife was diagnosed with cancer just weeks before his treatment ended.