NEED TO KNOW
Former NHL star Ron Duguay has stage 4 cancer, his family shared
The retired athlete’s daughters have organized a GoFundMe to help defray the cost of his treatment
Sarah Palin, whom Duguay has been linked to since 2022, was seen feeding him by spoon while he lay in a hospital bed in a clip shared by one of his daughters
Retired New York Rangers star Ron Duguay was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer over a year ago — and now his family is reaching out to ask for help in defraying the financial costs.
In a GoFundMe organized by the 68-year-old NHL legend’s daughters Shay Thomas and Amber Stavros, Duguay’s family said they created the fundraiser for him “because we’ve seen firsthand the weight this battle has placed on him, both physically and financially.”
“Our dad has never been someone who asks for help,” Thomas wrote. “Especially when it comes to money. He has always tried to handle everything on his own and didn’t want to burden anyone else with what he’s going through. But after many conversations as a family, we decided to create this fundraiser for him because we’ve seen firsthand the weight this battle has placed on him, both physically and financially.”
Duguay told Page Six that the cancer originated in his colon and has spread to his appendix and gallbladder.
“I find it extremely hard asking for funds for all these costs I’m going through,” Duguay told the outlet. “Normally, I’m helping others.”
He added that cancer “sucks the life out of you,” and is “so freaking costly.”
Duguay’s daughters — whom he shares with ex-wife Robin Bobo — explained in the GoFundMe description that he has not “been able to work the way he normally would, yet continues to fight with everything he has.”
The Ontario, Canada native has been receiving treatment in California but continues to live in Florida, his daughters added, which has added to his overall expenses.
Ron Duguay in 1984
Credit: Graig Abel Collection/Getty
“Recently, his cancer numbers have started to rise again, and while he continues his current treatments, we are now exploring additional treatment options outside of the United States in hopes of giving him the best possible chance,” the family wrote in the fundraiser description.
They added, “These treatments are very expensive and add another layer of financial strain during an already difficult time.”
In an Instagram post and video on Monday, Feb. 23, Thomas shared an update on her father’s condition.
“Cancer is so frustrating,” Thomas wrote in the lengthy caption. “Honestly… nothing prepares you for what this fight really looks like until someone you love is living it every single day.”
She continued, “One of the hardest things we’ve learned through this journey is that cancer doesn’t fight fair. Just when you think you’ve found something that’s working, just when hope starts to grow again, it tries to show up somewhere else. It forces you to keep pivoting, keep adjusting treatments, and keep changing cocktails and protocols.”
Ron Duguay and Sarah Palin in New York City on May 6, 2024
Credit: AFF-USA/Shutterstock
In a montage, the former athlete is seen receiving treatment in a hospital, prepping for surgery and spending time with his family and loved ones — including former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, whom he has been linked to since 2022.
In one clip included in the post, Palin, 62, feeds Duguay with a spoon while he lies in a hospital bed, while in another image, the two smile side-by-side for the camera.
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Duguay spent 12 seasons in the NHL from 1977-1988, playing for the Rangers, Red Wings, Kings and Penguins.
Amid her father’s journey, Thomas urged others to “keep your faith.”
“For anyone else walking through this or loving someone who is,” she wrote in her Instagram post, “I’m praying for you too. Keep your faith. Keep fighting. God is still working. 🙏🏻❤️.”
Read the original article on People