SPOTLIGHT RYAN MURPHY CANCER FUND

Murphy Cancer Fund to party like it’s 1989

— Ryan Murphy seemed way too full of life to die so young.

Murphy lost a two-year battle with colon cancer in 2004, passing away at the age of 27. The disease was shocking to those close to him, not only because colon cancer is rare for people in their mid-20s, but also because Murphy had always seemed like such a healthy person.

“Ryan was very energetic and very athletic,” says lifelong friend Brad Bridgers of Rogers. “He played everysport. He was Homecoming King and very smart. He was very healthy, and didn’t have a family history [of colon cancer].”

Bridgers and Murphy grew up in Rogers together, and became friends as children, attending schools together.

In 2002, Murphy began feeling ill, and his doctor came back with a surprising diagnosis: Colon cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer strikes less than one percent of people under the age of 30; it is significantly more prevalent in olderAmericans.

By the time Murphy’s cancer was diagnosed, it had already spread in his body.

“He was good friend of mine … very outgoing,” Bridgers recalls. “He would do anything for anybody.”

After Murphy died, Bridgers and other people who had been close to Murphy decided they wanted to do something in his honor. They raised funds, with the intention of giving the money to Murphy’s family to help with medical bills.

Instead, Murphy’s familysaid they would prefer that all the money go to the cancer support home in Benton County that had assisted him, in order to help other patients with their medical needs. That marked the beginning of the Ryan Murphy Cancer Fund.

The fund has raised tens of thousands of dollars in the years since Murphy’s passing, Bridgers says, with all of it going to the Washington Regional Cancer Support Homes in Fayetteville and Bentonville.

The cancer support homes provide an array of services for Northwest Arkansas cancer patients and their families, all at no cost. Among them are support groups, diagnostic testing, wigs and prosthetics, financial assistance for prescription medicine, overnight lodging and well-stocked resource libraries.

According to Washington Regional’s website, the support homes focus on uninsured and underinsured people in Northwest Arkansas. The Bentonville support home is at 2706 E. Central Ave., while the one in Fayetteville is at 1101 N.

Woolsey Ave.

“[Murphy’s mother said] she wanted to help other people locally, who can’t afford colonoscopies or don’t have health insurance,” Bridgers says. “So that’s where the money’s gone every year we’ve [raised funds]. One hundred percent of the funds stay locally.”

The fund will be having its annual fundraiser Saturday night at the Elks Lodge in Rogers. This year’s event will have a 1980s theme to it, a departure from previous years, which featured a casino night.

The ’80s night, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and lasts until 11, will include food, drinks, a silent auction and music, and guests are strongly encouraged to dress in their best ’80s gear.

Tickets to the event are $50 apiece, and Bridgers says the goal is to raise $20,000 for the cancer support homes. That would be an increase from recent years, when the total averaged around $15,000 annually.

“We’ve been doing the casino night for seven years now, and I think people are just wanting to do something alittle different,” Bridgers said. “I think the ’80s is something a lot of people are pumped up about, and something we want to give a try this year.

We’vegot a lot of excitement.” For more information about the Ryan Murphy Cancer Fund, call (479) 636-4551 or visit ryanmurphycancerfund.com.

Northwest Profile, Pages 37 on 11/11/2012

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