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New York Rangers great Ron Duguay is battling aggressive stage 4 cancer, prompting his family to issue a heartbreaking plea for help as the former NHL star pursues additional treatment “in hopes of giving him the best chance possible.”
Duguay, 68, first spoke about his health to Page six, telling the outlet that seeking financial support has been a challenge for him as someone who has used his platform to try to help others.
Ron Duguay (10) of the New York Rangers skates during warmups before the start of the alumni game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 31, 2011. (Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
“I find it extremely difficult to ask for funds for all these costs that I am going through,” he said. “Normally, I help others.”
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According to Page Six, Duguay was diagnosed with colon cancer over a year ago and lost his appendix and gallbladder during his treatment. Duguay’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to share details of their father’s condition and his intentions to seek additional treatment.
“Our father has never been someone to ask for help…especially when it comes to money. He has always tried to handle everything alone and didn’t want to put what he’s going through on anyone else. But after many conversations as a family, we decided to create this fundraiser for him because we saw first-hand the toll this battle took on him, both physically and financially,” the family wrote in the campaign post.
“Because of his cancer, he hasn’t been able to work as he normally would, but he continues to fight with everything he has. Earlier in his treatment journey, the care he received in Florida nearly cost him his life. This led us to bring him to Orange County, where my sister and I live, so he could receive treatment here…and luckily it has helped him so far.
Ron Duguay attends the 71st Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York on June 11, 2017. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
The family went on to explain that Duguay flies from Florida to California every two weeks to receive treatment and that his deteriorating condition prompted them to seek “holistic care” in addition to traditional treatment.
“Recently, the number of cancer cases has 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. These treatments are very expensive and add another layer of financial pressure in an already difficult time.”
More than $66,000 had been raised as of Wednesday.
Canadian hockey player Ron Duguay (center) of the New York Rangers in front of the net during a game against the New York Islanders, April 1982. Canadian Islanders goaltender Billy Smith (right) and American defenseman Ken Morrow defend the goal. (Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images))
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Duguay was one of the Rangers’ most recognizable figures of the late 1970s and early 1980s after being drafted 13th overall in 1977. He was instrumental in the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1979.
He played in 864 games during an 11-year NHL career, recording 274 goals and 346 assists. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings during this time.
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