Four decades later, the now-famous Barrett-Jackson annually stages four World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions across the United States, including one each January at Scottsdale’s WestWorld events center.

Late last year, the Jackson name became synonymous with the fight against colon and prostate cancer, when Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, launched the Russ and Brian Jackson Cancer Research Fund at TGen in honor his father and brother. In December 2009, Colorado Springs businessman and car collector Rick Holland, whose own mother Bernice Holland had died of colon cancer, joined with Craig to establish a $1 million named laboratory.

As a result, TGen’s investigations into colon and prostate cancer will take place inside the Russ & Brian Jackson Research Laboratory, a salute to Craig’s father, Russ, and brother, Brian, whose lives were cut short by colon cancer, which annually kills nearly 50,000 Americans. Money raised by the fund will support TGen’s research into colon and prostate cancer.

“Establishing this fund and working in partnership with TGen is one of the most important things I have ever done,” Jackson said. “Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S., and more than 100,000 men and women were diagnosed in 2009. I am thrilled to have found such an incredible and inspirational partner in TGen.”

Cancer is a major focus of TGen’s genomic studies, and with help from the Russ and Brian Jackson Fund, the staff will continue to push the boundaries of colon cancer investigation, further unraveling the genetic complexities of the disease.

“We will continue to push forward and conduct groundbreaking research, hopefully with accelerated results,” said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, TGen’s President and Research Director. “Craig came to me with the very specific goal of defeating colon cancer, and we will work hard to honor the memory of his family members whose lives were cut short by the disease.”

The Russ and Brian Jackson Cancer Research Fund will become a fundraising focus at each of the four Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions in 2010. Craig Jackson will act as the national spokesperson, spreading the word about how the fund supports research into both diseases, and may one day lead to improved treatments and diagnostics.

“Working with TGen I learned about the number of research programs and time that are poured into finding cures to the many forms of cancer,” Jackson said. “The entire Barrett-Jackson family is behind this new effort to help TGen fight colon and prostate cancer.”

Details of the fund and named laboratory came together just prior this year’s Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, where the original canvas painting of the event program cover was sold to help benefit the Russ & Brian Jackson Cancer Research Fund.

“Creating the Russ & Brian Jackson Cancer Research Fund will enable TGen to more swiftly develop better treatments for patients now, and perhaps provide important findings that could one day lead to a cure,” said Bennett Dorrance, Chairman of DMB Associates Inc. and Chairman of the TGen Foundation.

Barrett-Jackson also conducts annual collector car auctions in Palm Beach, Florida, and in Las Vegas, Nevada. Barrett-Jackson recently announced the addition of a fourth auction in Orange County, California, June 25-27, where the company will continue its tradition of charity by giving collectors, sponsors and enthusiasts additional opportunities to support TGen research through the fund.

This year, nearly 340,000 Americans will learn they have colon or prostate cancer, and more than 85,000 will die. Craig Jackson’s support of TGen’s research to understand the genetic causes of colon and prostate cancer — two of the leading and most devastating cancer’s today — brings renewed hope to these individuals for improved diagnostics and treatments.