In Memory Of A Friend

Ryan McGuire out on the golf course.

Ryan McGuire is still very young, only six years old. Yet, he has had an experience that many adults don't have until they are well into middle age. Ryan lost one of his friends to a rare form of brain cancer. Danny Nickerson died at the age of six from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an inoperable cancer. Only 10 percent of its victims live for 18 months after diagnosis.

Besides losing a friend he dearly loved, Ryan is also a young golf enthusiast. So, in his grief, he decided to do something in memory of his dear friend - and that had something to do with golf. His mom, Cheryl, is Program Director of GOLF FIGHTS CANCER, which raises funds for organizations that treat and research cancer and also assist those who have this illness.



Even so, when Ryan first proposed his idea of playing 100 holes of golf in a single day to raise money to support the work of Dr. Mark Kieran at DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE in Boston, his friend Danny's doctor, mom wasn't that enthusiastic at first. Mom, Cheryl said, "I said no at first, but then I thought more about it, and he was so amped up about it. It's definitely doable for him. He's got plenty of energy." There was also another reason that mom changed her mind, "Being able to talk about [Danny's death] in a more positive light instead of a somber tone is one of the best outcomes from taking this on." Ryan had only managed 16 holes previously in one day. In return for his effort, Ryan planned to raise more than $15,000 and has managed to raise $8,000.

The big golf day comes on June 17, Wednesday. Of course, at the age of six, Ryan has a lot of energy and is hoping to complete his feat without benefit of a golf cart. He will walk the entire length for love of his friend. But Ryan won't be alone on the course; his grandfather, who survived prostate cancer, will accompany him on the course, as caddy.

So, what happens if Ryan can't finish the 100 holes? Well, he has his entire kindergarten class backing him up. If Ryan gets too tired, he can rest secure that his classmates will help him make the 100 holes.

How did mom Cheryl deal with the fact that her son and Danny became such close friends? Cheryl says, "I knew on the first day of kindergarten, when he sat next to Danny, it was going to be a year like no other. DIPG is one of the most lethal of childhood cancers, so it meant to me that I needed to prepare Ryan for this. When a 5-year-old loses a friend like that, they understand they're not immortal, so it was important for him to know that we're healthy and that he's healthy."

Dana Farber Cancer Institute on a beautiful spring day.

Obviously, Cheryl was aware and prepared not to deny her son this life experience of close friendship, even with the thought that it would be brief. Among the life lessons was that friendship can end when your friend dies, but that, no matter how young you are, you can make it through that loss with a lot of loving support. Ryan also knows that not everyone dies from this very common illness with many dimensions. So, Ryan has the last word, "Some people I know have had cancer and are OK now. I want to help Danny's doctor so kids with DIPG have more hope to beat their cancer, too."

Young Danny Nickerson, with birthday cards he was collecting.

Thanks to this article from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/12/ryan-mcguire-100-holes-golf_n_7564508.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news; and this article from Today Health: http://www.today.com/health/boy-6-play-100-holes-golf-one-day-raise-money-t25496.

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