In December 2015, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made its annual grant to the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance. This grant fulfills our research mission to join the fight against pancreatic cancer and support the patients and families affected by this devastating disease.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that close to 50,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Forty thousand will lose their battle with this terrible disease. It is the 4th leading cause of cancer death and has a 5 year survival rate of just 6%.

The Pancreatic Cancer Alliance supports the University of Massachusetts Medical School Research Center. This support is being used to fund a dedicated pancreatic clinical trial program at UMass and to support research through the international pancreatic cancer research team. As many of you are aware, our son Patrick was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January of 2006 and fought a courageous 27 month battle before succumbing to this devastating cancer.

For more information on the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance please visit their website.

In August of 2015, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made its annual grant to Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. This grant provides restricted aid scholarships for graduates of the Nativity School of Worcester, Massachusetts. In May of 2016 a recipient of this restricted aid scholarship will graduate from Saint John’s and go on to college. It is important that we serve these Nativity School students, who would not otherwise have the means to attend Saint John’s.

For more information about Saint John’s and the Nativity School of Worcester, please visit their websites.

In June of 2015, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made its annual grant to the 15-40 Connection to fulfill our awareness mission. Since 1975 cancer survival rates for young people between the ages of 15 to 40 have not improved significantly in large part due to delayed diagnosis. 15-40 Connection’s mission is to change this by empowering all in this age group with the life saving advantage of earlier cancer detection. Many of you are aware that our son Patrick fell into this age group.

For more information about 15-40 Connection, please visit their website.

A Story About Love - This is Beth's story

Fitness was always been a big part of Beth’s daily life. She finished road races, marathons and triathlons. However, Beth was faced with the biggest challenge of her life about 7 years ago when she was diagnosed with stage four biliary Cancer. How does one face that? Beth faced it head on!

Through it all, it was her faith and the love she has for her husband and children, family, and friends that gave her the strength and courage to beat each hurdle thrown her way. She is an inspiration to all. Even when she wasn't feeling at her best, she still found time to help others and volunteered for the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance.

From Jim Comer, "She was a dear friend and a great supporter of the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation. Beth was a year and a day older than Patrick, although they never met before his passing in 2008. She was chosen as our first quarter 2015 grant recipient and she received the grant before she passed. The Patrick Comer Courage Foundation grant will be used to support Beth and Brendan’s children’s educational fund. Cheryl and I knew Beth for 7 years. She was an amazing and courageous lady and, like Patrick, was full of life. We were blessed to have her in our lives and pray that Patrick was there to meet her on her journey. We hope our web site will help raise something for her children’s education."

To read all of Beth's story and to contribute directly to the education fund of her two children, please visit: www.gofundme.com/A-Story-About-Love

In November 2014, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made a donation to the Taussig Cancer Institute.

Megan Kilbane, Taussig Cancer Institute Administrator, thanked PCCF. "On behalf of the Taussig Cancer Institute and our patients, I am writing to thank you for your generous donation to the Barb Leslie Memorial Fund. Your gift will have a direct impact on our cancer patients who need financial assistance to bridge the financial gap between insurance, social service programs and out of pocket expenses." [Donation Receipt]

In October 2014, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made a donation to the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

John R. Hayes Jr., Interim Vice Chancellor, UMass Medical School / UMass Memorial, Development Office, thanked our foundation for our continued support. "We gratefully acknowledge your gift to our academic health sciences center, consisting of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care. Thanks to your contribution, we are able to strengthen our efforts in providing excellence in education, research and clinical care. Donors like you playa critical role in our ability to further our comprehensive mission of improving and advancing the health and well-being of the people of Central New England and the world. We recognize how fortunate we are to be the trusted recipient of your contribution. Thank you again for your generosity and the belief in the vital work we do." [Donation Receipt]

In August 2014, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made an annual grant to Saint John’s High School providing restricted aid scholarships for graduates of Worcester’s Nativity School. As many of our foundation donors know, Patrick was a 1990 graduate of Saint John’s. [Donation Receipt]

15 to 40 year olds are diagnosed with cancer eight times more frequently than younger children. However, since 1975 improvements in their survival rates have not kept up with those of other age groups. It is the 15-40 Connection's mission to improve the survival rates of this age group by providing educational resources. [Donation Receipt]

"My name is Jennifer (Lemoine) Briggs and Ron was my Dad. I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart after your generous donation toward my Dad's care. We were all blown away after hearing of the donation! My Dad was obviously such a big part of our family and he is missed so much every day. However, it makes the loss easier when you know there are selfless people like the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation out there who care and want to help. It is truly beautiful! My husband and I would like to donate toward your son's foundation. Perhaps it will help (a little) another family who is going through "the fight"! -- Jennifer Briggs [Jennifer's Full Letter]

In November 2013, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made an annual grant to the Sheri and Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center at City of Hope in memory of Patrick.

Dr. Michael Friedman thanked our foundation personally for touching the lives of City of Hope patients and their families. “Your support demonstrates that you believe, as I do, that it is essential to support the emotional wellbeing of the whole patient and their family. You are helping our social service team assist those for whom the financial crisis of cancer is an additional burden. As a result, you give hope to patients and their families during this very difficult time.”

For more about City of Hope, please visit their website -- www.cityofhope.org.

In November 2013, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made an annual grant to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Our grant goes directly to patient related clinical and translational related research projects.

Dr. Michael F. Collins, Senior VP for Health Sciences and Chancellor thanked our foundation for our continued support and commented on how this is translated into Dr. Jennifer LaFemina’s work as Director of the UMass Pancreas Program stating, “We are pleased to have Jennifer LaFemina, M.D., as director of the UMass Pancreas Program. Dr. LaFemina is involved in a number of active clinical and translational research projects, including performing genetic biopsies to target the best therapy for a specific pancreatic cancer patient and the development of a screening test for early detection of this disease. In July, Dr. LaFemina was featured on WTAG AM 580 discussing risk factors for pancreatic cancer, the importance of screening protocols, research and why she chose to get involved in a field, which, as you know, is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in America. In fact, this week we held our annual Pancreatic Cancer Symposium, during which Wahid Wassef, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.G., director of endoscopy, delivered a keynote address entitled, “Hereditary Pancreatic Diseases”."

For more information on the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance please visit their website -- www.pancreaticalliance.org.

In August 2013, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made an annual grant to Saint John’s High School providing restricted aid scholarships for graduates of Worcester’s Nativity School. As many of our foundation donors know, Patrick was a 1990 graduate of Saint John’s.

Michael Welch, Headmaster of Saint John’s, thanked our foundation for its generous commitment as part of Transforming Lives, the campaign for Saint John’s, and our grant will continue to support financial aid for Nativity School graduates at Saint John’s through the Patrick Comer scholarship fund.

Michael stated: “As you know it is important to us to serve the students of the Nativity School as much as possible. This furthers our mission by allowing those young men who might not otherwise have the means to attend Saint John’s. Your son Patrick had an amazing vision and for that we are grateful”.

For more information about Saint John’s High School and the Nativity School of Worcester, visit their websites at: www.stjohnshigh.org and www.nativityworcester.org.

As part of our awareness mission, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made an annual grant to the 15-40 Connection in June of 2013. The 15-40 Connection is emerging as a national organization committed to raising awareness about the lifesaving advantage of early cancer detection. They empower individuals to take personal responsibility for their health and check themselves for cancer by taking action against persistent health changes.

15 to 40 year olds are diagnosed with cancer eight times more frequently than younger children. However, since 1975 improvements in their survival rates have not kept up with those of other age groups. It is the 15-40 Connection's mission to improve the survival rates of this age group by providing educational resources.

As you may be aware, Patrick was 33 when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and was in this cancer vulnerable age group.

To learn more about the 15-40 Connection, you can find them online at www.15-40.org, and can follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

The Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made its second quarter 2013 grant to Braveheart - Friends of Dylan Connelly. Dylan was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of primary brain cancer.

Jim Comer met with Dylan’s dad, Patrick, and his brother, Jude, in early May and was touched by the similarities in Patrick Comer’s and Dylan Connelly’s lives. Below is a link to Braveheart. Please take time to read Dylan’s and his family’s compelling story:

www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/Braveheart/45495

In April, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made its annual grant to Saint John’s High School, Shrewsbury, MA for restricted aid scholarships given to graduates in good standing from Worcester’s Nativity School. [read more]

The Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made a grant to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at the University Of Massachusetts Medical School.

"Thank you for your gift through the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. Your contribution js a clear demonstration of your confidence in the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), the commonwealth's public medical school, and we are fortunate to have your support."

"So much of what we do--from research to education to health care delivery and public service - is made possible from the support of donors like you. Your investment in our institution enables us to create opportunities for nurturing future medical professionals, advance biomedical research and develop community outreach initiatives. Thank you again for your continued generosity.", Michael F. Collins, M.D., Senior Vice President for the Health Sciences and Chancellor

In August, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made its annual grant to Saint John’s High School, Shrewsbury, MA for restricted aid scholarships given to graduates in good standing from Worcester’s Nativity School. Jim Comer presented a check to Headmaster Michael Welch, Saint John’s High School.

The Patrick Comer Courage Foundation, as part of our awareness mission, made a grant to the 15-40 Foundation as a scoreboard sponsor of the 2012 15-40 Foundation Charity Golf Tournament and Gala.

"Thank you for your generous participation in the Mark & David Ungerer Golf Tournament & Auction 2012! It was resounding success with $503,000 raised to support the efforts of the 15-40 Connection to improve cancer survival rates through the power of early detection."

"Your very meaningful assistance as a Scoreboard Sponsor is deeply appreciated and critical to building awareness among the many thousands of young people who do not yet understand they are at risk. Know that your awareness and support is having an impact. Thank you!", Susan M. Cyr, Tournament Director

The 15-40 Connection is raising awareness of the fact that 15 to 40 year olds are diagnosed with cancer eight times more frequently than young children and yet since 1975 improvements in their survival rates have not kept pace with those for other age groups. Delays in diagnosis play a significant role in this startling statistic.

Through the use of educational tools, programming and resources, the 15-40 Connection is empowering individuals to take personal responsibility for their health, check themselves for cancer and take assertive action in response to persistent health changes.

The PCCF proudly presented its second quarter 2012 grant to City of Hope, the renowned NCI Comprehensive Cancer Care Center in Duarte, CA. For nearly 100 years, City of Hope’s pioneering research has brought the world closer to cures for many life-threatening diseases, from cancer to diabetes. [Learn more >> page 1, page 2 ]

From Michael A. Friedman, MD., President and Chief Executive Officer, "Your support demonstrates that you believe, as I do, that it is essential to support the emotional wellbeing of the whole patient and their family. You are helping our social service team assist those for whom the financial crisis of cancer is an additional burden. As a result, you give hope to patients and their families during this very difficult time."

The Patrick Comer Courage Foundation made its 1st quarter grant to the Murray family of Norwell, MA. Maddie Murray was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on August 25, 2011, just one day away from her first birthday. Maddie began a five month regiment of chemotherapy, but doctors said that her best chance for survival was a bone marrow transplant.

Miraculously, Maddie’s older sister, Gracie, was a perfect match. The transplant was successfully completed in January of 2012. Maddie then began her journey to recovery. I am very pleased to report that a recent phone call to a family friend revealed that Maddie was doing great two years after being diagnosed.

Bob Sweeney of Dudley, MA, 63, was busy working to support his family – wife Judi and raising their 13-year-old grandson. They are very devoted to Troy and enjoyed attending his school activities and soccer games.

In September of last year, Bob – a Navy veteran and 2-time colon cancer survivor -- got the devastating news that the cancer had returned and had spread. He quickly began treatment.

Because of Bob’s treatment, he had to leave his job; and the family was faced with struggling to pay their bills. Parents from the community, kids in Troy’s class and on his soccer team, and members of the Sweeney’s church came together and began collecting gift cards and clothes and food to help their friends through this difficult time and to relieve some of the worry so Bob and his family could focus on fighting the cancer and hopefully, give him precious more time with his wife and grandson. Through a series of friends reaching out to help friends, word reached the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation that a family in Dudley, MA, may benefit from the good work the foundation does to help people battling cancer.

When Jim Comer heard their story, he thought they would be good candidates for a grant from the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation and arranged to visit the Sweeney’s. After meeting with Jim, Bob and Judi were impressed and comforted by Jim’s quiet and gentle nature and were very moved by Jim’s story. Bob would later tell his wife that Jim had touched his soul. The decision was made to award this quarter’s grant to the Sweeney’s. The grant will allow them to stay current on their bills and relieve that burden of worry.

While the grants provided by the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation help people to meet their financial obligations and relieve some of the burden from waging war on cancer, the reaching out to touch other human beings on a very basic and personal level is truly priceless!

On Wednesday December 7th at the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance meeting at UMass Memorial Hospital, Jim Comer presented Dr. Giles Whalen a grant from the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation.

The grant goes directly to pancreatic cancer research and phase 1, 11, 111 trials at the UMass Memorial Worcester Campus.

PCCF gave a grant to Michael Briggs, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2010.

Read about Michael, his life and his battle with cancer via Dianne Williamson's recently published article in the Worcester, MA. Telegram.

Our first quarter 2011 PCCF grant went to City of Hope, the renowned NCI Comprehensive Cancer Care Center in Duarte, CA. For nearly 100 years, City of Hope’s pioneering research has brought the world closer to cures for many life-threatening diseases, from cancer to diabetes. [Learn more >> page 1, page 2 ]

Joe Komsky (pictured right), Senior Officer Gift Planning, thanks the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation for their grant, which will be directed to The Social Services Fund in supports of City of Hope patients with expenses not covered by health insurance while undergoing treatment.

PCCF gave a grant in support of Pancreatic Cancer research and clinical trials through the UMASS Pancreas Program and the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance.

Pictured left, Jim and Cheryl Comer present a grant to Audrey Curlan Marcy, Chair of the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance.

As part of the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation awareness mission, we made a grant to the 15-40 Connection in July 2010.

The 15-40 Connection was born out of an alarming statistic. It is one that has cut lives short and impacted many hundreds of thousands. Nearly 70,000 15 to 40-year-olds in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every year. Yet, cancer survival rates for this age group have been nearly stagnant since 1975.

How can this be true? When an ache, pain, or fatigue does not go away 15 to 40-year-olds typically wait, and then wait some more for it to resolve itself. They attribute the change in their health to stress or feel that calling a doctor is over-reacting. What they do not know is the most obvious sign of cancer is an often subtle change in your normal health. Time spent waiting for these issues to resolve themselves provides cancer with time to progress. Cancer is much more difficult to treat at more advanced stages. This is a major contributor to this alarming statistic.

The 15-40 Connection is dedicated to creating a world where "invincible" adolescents and young adults take their medical care and cancer screenings seriously. Motivating teens and young adults to take action when they notice changes in their normal health and to be strong self-advocates when their instincts tell them something is wrong will save lives and improve cancer survival rates.

From Dylan's mother, Megan Seymour: When I was 7 months pregnant, the doctors said there was a big possibility that Dylan would have Downs Syndrome due to measurements in the nucofold. I was sent to Boston for further ultrasound tests and they had the same conclusion. The only test to further show a definite answer was the amnio which I refused. My husband and I decided we could handle whatever was to come.

On April 19th, 2007, Dylan was born without Downs! He was a healthy baby with 10 fingers and toes! Kris and I were relieved. He soon became our most active and rambunctious child. The word mischievous does Dylan no justice! His speech was delayed, but the doctor reassured me that it was because he was the youngest of three children and that this was common.

When Dylan was always sick with the minor cold, but with other kids in and out of school all day, I figured this too was normal. In April of 2008, Dylan had been sick with the runny nose and cough for almost 3 months. We went to NC for a wedding and as soon as we got down there Dylan’s symptom disappeared. I chalked it up to allergies.

The following year in February 2009, Dylan became very ill and he was hospitalized for the croup. At this time we also noticed terrible bruising on his feet and legs, and also his belly. After that our world turned upside down. After his release from the hospital, he seemed to be on the mend, but the cough came back which turned into bronchitis then into pneumonia. His pediatrician had us coming in every day for blood work. The first few days the white cell count was high, but that is normal when the body fights off an infection. Finally after almost two weeks of blood tests, the doctor said he was referring us to Children’s Hospital in Boston because he couldn’t figure out what was going on. After a few weeks of blood tests in Boston, they suggested a bone marrow aspiration to get to the bottom of it. One week later on 8/31/09 Dylan was diagnosed with JMML, juvenile mylomonocytic leukemia. This is a rare childhood leukemia that only affects 25-50 children per year and accounts for only 1% of all childhood leukemia.

The only treatment option for JMML is a bone marrow transplant, because chemo does nothing to kill the cancer. The search began... our family was tested to be possible matches but none of us were. Dylan was put on the national bone marrow list. My sister and another good friend of ours held bone marrow and blood drives in Dylan’s name and both had amazing outcomes. While the family and friends were doing their part to be supportive, Kris and I found ourselves at the Jimmy Fund Clinic almost every other day. Dylan’s counts were dropping dramatically and he began to undergo many blood transfusions. He was dieing in front of our eyes and there was nothing to do but pray that he gets a match ASAP.

In the beginning of November, we got the GREAT news that Dylan has a match and that she has agreed to go through with the procedure to save his life. Dylan was admitted to the hospital the following week due to fevers, but we ended up staying to begin the process. On November 22nd, the heavy chemo started, and on December 3rd, his transplant was completed. This was a horrible experience, but Dylan remained strong through it all. My husband, Kris, and I stayed with him the entire time. My mother and stepson’s mother stayed at our home to care for our daughter. The two of them cared for our other children during our stay at Children’s Hospital. I forget the actual release date because I lost track of time, but in early January, Dylan was released from the hospital!

Dylan has a long road ahead and lots of care that he needs at home, as well as many visits per week to clinic. He must still be in seclusion for about a year, which means no visitors. This is a long, lonely road, but we will walk whatever path given to us to keep him healthy and happy.

The 2010 Patrick Comer Courage Foundation Scholarship Recipients have been named. Chris Rodgers and Tim Barrett, a freshman and sophomore at Saint John's High School respectively, accepted their scholarhips at the annual January luncheon.

Jim and Cheryl Comer are once again very happy with the foundation's choices. "Chris and Tim are two great young men and we are very proud that they have chosen to attend Saint John's with assistance from PCCF."

Greg Fingar was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2005. In the time since Greg, 53, was diagnosed the family has remained extremely positive and has never once let the statistics that come with pancreatic cancer beat them down. They have done tireless research, consulted numerous specialists, and assembled for Greg a crackerjack team of doctors.

"If you listen to statistics, I would be dead right now”, Greg confided. But, instead, he continues to battle this devastating disease. Greg has had several surgeries and continues state of the art chemotherapy treatments.

Greg and his wife, Dale, and two sons are an inspiration to all families that battle cancer every day and the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation is extremely proud to have Greg and his family as our most recent grant recipients.

Greg joined us recently at our 2009 Patrick Comer Courage Foundation golf outing and fundraiser at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Massachusetts. He is shown in this photograph with his sister-in-law, Darlene Schoen, and his wife, Dale.

On Sunday, March 8, 2009, over 100 people came to support Michele Franchi at a fundraiser at the Knights of Columbus in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Michele, a single mother, is facing her second battle with breast cancer.

The good news is, she has a great prognosis, but is struggling financially due to being unable to work through her treatment. Jim and Cheryl Comer attended the event and presented Michele with a check from the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation.

In December 2007, Peter Ribaudo, received a diagnosis of lymphoma - broadly described as a type of cancer affecting blood, bone marrow and/or lymph nodes. After a series of successful radiation treatments, Peter learned that the lymphoma returned. He began chemotherapy immediately upon diagnosis of the lymphoma’s recurrence. Doctors detected early effects of the lymphoma in some of Peter’s organs, including his liver.

In addition, the cancer caused lesions on a vertebra on Peter’s back, his hip and one of his femurs. The lesions on the femur deteriorated the bone just enough to cause small stress fractures, requiring surgery to install a steel rod in Peter’s femur.

In October 2008, Peter received a syngeneic stem cell transplant from his identical twin brother, Ben. Doctors don't see that often and the main benefit (besides Ben's giving this gift to Peter) is that Peter will not have to face any of the graft/host complications. When there is not a perfect match, the new stem cells will reject the host and as a result, there are many complications that have to be dealt with including outright rejection, illnesses related to the transplant and lots of extra treatments to deal with these complications. This transplant will be as if Peter were giving himself the new stem cells. His body is expected to accept the new stem cells and the new stem cells are expected to be happy to be added into Peter's system...like old friends.

Foundation members can continue to follow Peter's story and send Peter their support through Peter's CaringBridge website.