Meet the Melanoma Patient Community

Guest authored by MRF philanthropic supporter Loree Draeger:

Richard (Dick) Draeger had 3 primary loves in his life: his family, his church and rowing. Growing up in sun-drenched California, very tall, blond and fair-skinned, Dick took up rowing as a freshman at Stanford and quickly excelled into the varsity boat. Graduating, he headed to Rome, medaling in the 1960 Olympics pair with coxswain event. It was a life changing experience that convinced him that diligent hard work was the pathway to achieving his life goals. Fast forward: marriage, active duty with the Army Corps of Engineers, 4 boys, volunteering with sons, church and community, to corporate career retirement at age 60. Promptly! Now he was on the water with his local rowing club, training for regattas and always rowing to win. Dick was a highly respected local, national and international team rower in the 15 very happy years he competed up to his melanoma diagnosis, surgery and radiation at age 75.

Dick brought his 'row to win' attitude to his battle with the rare primary melanoma coiled around his cervical spinal cord. We soon found the excellent MRF website and joined the Melanoma Patients Information Page (MPIP) community. The MPIP was a godsend, with an amazing network of patients, survivors and caregivers from all over our country and beyond, asking questions, sharing experiences, recommendations and links to resources. Reading these postings, and posting ourselves, Dick was deeply moved by the number of patients who were new parents with children yet to raise. He felt so blessed that he had been able to enjoy our grown sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. The two and a half years after his diagnosis and release from the hospital on Hospice care 'with 6 months to live,' was a time in which he absolutely 'rowed to win.' While marked with the incredible strength and poise Dick displayed as a lifelong elite athlete, melanoma won this battle, this race, ...this time.

To honor Dick's memory and support families like those we met through the MPIP, we want to stay involved with the MRF through philanthropic support. Our family is thankful and privileged to fund a 2-year Career Development Award to support proven and promising research to benefit melanoma patients and their families with the hope that one day malignant melanoma will be a plague of the past.

The MRF extends its sincere gratitude to Loree and the entire Draeger family for their ongoing investment in the melanoma community. If you are interested in supporting the MRF’s Research Grant Program, please contact Kyleigh LiPira, Senior Director of Development at klipira@melanoma.org or call 202-742-5904.