\u201cOur dad has never been someone who asks for help,\u201d Thomas wrote. \u201cEspecially when it comes to money. He has always tried to handle everything on his own and didn\u2019t want to burden anyone else with what he\u2019s going through. But after many conversations as a family, we decided to create this fundraiser for him because we\u2019ve seen firsthand the weight this battle has placed on him, both physically and financially.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duguay told Page Six<\/a> that the cancer originated in his colon and has spread to his appendix and gallbladder.<\/p>\n \u201cI find it extremely hard asking for funds for all these costs I\u2019m going through,\u201d Duguay told the outlet. \u201cNormally, I\u2019m helping others.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that cancer \u201csucks the life out of you,\u201d and is \u201cso freaking costly.\u201d<\/p>\n Duguay\u2019s daughters \u2014 whom he shares with ex-wife Robin Bobo \u2014 explained in the GoFundMe description that he has not \u201cbeen able to work the way he normally would, yet continues to fight with everything he has.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ron Duguay in 1984 \u201cRecently, 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,\u201d the family wrote in the fundraiser description.<\/p>\n They added, \u201cThese treatments are very expensive and add another layer of financial strain during an already difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n In an Instagram post<\/a> and video on Monday, Feb. 23, Thomas shared an update on her father\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n \u201cCancer is so frustrating,\u201d Thomas wrote in the lengthy caption. \u201cHonestly\u2026 nothing prepares you for what this fight really looks like until someone you love is living it every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n She continued, \u201cOne of the hardest things we\u2019ve learned through this journey is that cancer doesn\u2019t fight fair. Just when you think you\u2019ve found something that\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Ron Duguay and Sarah Palin in New York City on May 6, 2024 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 \u2014 including former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin<\/a>, whom he has been linked to since 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n Duguay spent 12 seasons in the NHL from 1977-1988, playing for the Rangers, Red Wings, Kings and Penguins.<\/p>\n Amid her father’s journey, Thomas urged others to \u201ckeep your faith.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor anyone else walking through this or loving someone who is,\u201d she wrote in her Instagram post, \u201cI\u2019m praying for you too. Keep your faith. Keep fighting. God is still working. \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffb\u2764\ufe0f.\u201d<\/p>\n Read the original article on People<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Ron](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/449cfff45a3ca5dd37043bfc5f773eca.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Graig Abel Collection\/Getty<\/p>\n![\"Ron](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4fb072a8a8b5406dddc6c49142166140.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: AFF-USA\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n