Fighting Cancer One Family At A Time
It all started in 2018, When Maggie and Martin Hoeger wanted to start a foundation in memory of their sister and mother respectively. Maggie had lost her sister, Mary, to Leukemia in 2017 and Martin had lost his mother, Pat, in 2004 to Lymphoma.
The first year's outing was held in honor of the two women and all proceeds were donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.
After the first year, Maggie and Martin realized that there was an opportunity to make a difference directly in their own back yard. With the success of the first year and a focus on families in the community that were battling cancer, the foundation shifted its intent. From the second year on, they would pick families in need and raise money directly for their neighbors.
From 2019 on Take a Swing at Cancer has helped many local families and looks forward to many successful years of raising money for those fighting this horrible disease.
This years Honorees
2022 Honorees
Danny "Dano Hutchinson
Some know him as Danny…Dano…or Hutch, but his favorite name will always be Daddy or Pops.
Danny Hutchison, our loving uncle, brother, nephew, husband, father, grandfather and everyone’s friend, is reaching the end of his journey in life.
These past 5 years, the family has been dealt a tough hand. He suffered a heart attack in 2017, a debilitating stroke in 2019, which put him on permanent disability, and if that weren’t enough, he was diagnosed in 2020 with metastatic melanoma.
We all know and love Danny for his sense of humor and positive spirit! He was always making up silly nicknames, and making us all laugh. However, his greatest joy was being surrounded around the love of his family and the joy of spending time with his wife, 3 wonderful children & twin grandchildren.
But, now we are left with the harsh reality of his cancer, which has spread quite rapidly and aggressively.
Danny and his beautiful family have been surrounded by an army of support from Family & Friends. But, we realize we all want to be able to do more, and to help in any way possible.
Through the last few years of various medical hurdles and 100s of doctors visits, we realize the burden this can leave on the family. As Marie Pierre, his wife, has needed to take a leave from work, we have decided to establish a Celebration of Life Fund, as Danny enters into Hospice Care.
Every little bit helps… even in a time that seems so incomprehensible. We hope to be able to take care of any additional Medical Expenses, Services, and ultimately, alleviate any financial pressures as the family finds their new normal.
“Today our Dano went to Heaven.
My Dano! We will forever carry your light. Your gentle spirit, your light hearted jokes, your love for your family and friends, and the joy TaTa, Samantha, Lauren, Daniel, Tyler and Sophia & Carson brought to you. Thank you for all the laughs! I cherish the time we had. My Dano! I love you.
We are so grateful for all the support and donations that have been sent. Words can not express what this has meant to the family. The outpouring of love is overwhelming and a testament to Dano’s spirit. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It is a blessing to be able to share this gesture with his family.”
Hunter McCoy Smith
Hunter McCoy Smith came into the world on November 23rd, 2020, at 6 lbs 7oz of perfection, despite being 5 weeks premature. After a blissful 15 days of Hunter’s life he had routine bloodwork and a hearing screening at CHOP Philadelphia. Hunter had no response in his left ear, which prompted him to receive a brain scan immediately. 24 hrs after the brain scan, the Smith family received the most devastating news: at 4 weeks old Hunter had to undergo brain surgery to biopsy a large tumor in the left side of his brain.
On December 22nd, Hunter’s original due date, he was diagnosed with ATRT (Atypical Tertoid Rhabadoid Tumor), a very rare and aggressive brain tumor. It is a germ line mutation case, meaning it could show up in any other parts of his little body, including the spine, liver, pancreas, etc.
At just 5 weeks old, Hunter started to receive heavy chemotherapy. He’s since had 8 rounds of regular chemo, followed by another brain surgery at 6 months old to successfully remove a large portion of the tumor, but unfortunately the rest is inoperable. Hunter has gone through 3 rounds of Hi-Dose chemotherapy and 3 rounds of stem cell transplant. He has also had laser radiation therapy to the left side of his brain. There have been many successful and many failed treatments.
At 20 months old, Hunter is awaiting his next brain scan to determine the current extent of the tumor.
No parent should ever have to watch their child go through such traumatic, painful treatments like Hunter has had to endure, but it is with the help and support of friends, family, therapist, and community that help make these devastating times a little lighter. His family has asked that “if you pray at all, please pray for peace for baby Hunter, and wish him a happy and healthy life.”