Sunny skies and light breezes carried the spirit and celebration of hope for the research fundraising efforts supporting the Duke Sarcoma Center team at their first annual golf outing and silent auction fundraiser on May 22 at the 12 Oaks Golf Club in Holly Springs.
More than 80 golfers comprising current sarcoma patients, survivors, and their family members, the dedicated physical therapists, nurses, surgeons, oncologists, administrators, and nurses enjoyed playing 18 holes, supporting a silent auction, sharing a meal, and stories of hope and survival.
Duke has been treating sarcoma patients for decades. Still, in the past 15 years, this specialized team of oncology and orthopaedic surgeons and doctors has become a national leader. In fact, more than 900 new adult and pediatric patients are seen yearly at the Duke Cancer Center in Durham and Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center. Overall, Duke Sarcoma specialists care for more than 2,000 patients in treatment or sarcoma cancer survivors.
Pastor Jon McConkey thanked Susan G. Kreissman, MD, and Brian Brigman, MD, for their tireless efforts to treat and support his 13-year-old son, Joel. “My family and I are so grateful for their dedication to treating our son and many patients like him. Joel was diagnosed with osteosarcoma amid the COVID pandemic in 2020 at age 10.
We also met Mark Roberts, who started a journey in 2020 with Julia Visgauss, MD, Will Eward, MD, and Brian Brigman, MD. “I was working on irrigation pump stations, dealing with horrific pain in my leg, and discovered a mass. Dr. Visgauss, Dr. Eward, Dr. Brigman, and others saved my life – twice. Thank you.”