It was summer 2019, and Dave Worden noticed a couple of bumps on his knee. He wasn’t too concerned. Almost two decades earlier, he had a suspicious mole removed from his left calf that turned out to be melanoma. He caught it early, before it spread, and after five years of treatment, his oncologist told him not to come back because they “only treated sick people,” he says.
Jokes aside, Worden readily admits that initial experience was terrifying—after all, he had been diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Because he had survived that scare; he figured he would pull through this latest one, too.
Then his doctor told him that these new lumps were different. This was metastatic melanoma, Stage 4, spreading aggressively through his body. Doctors gave Worden anywhere from five years to 18 months to live.
After reality set in, and the surgeries and immunotherapy began at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Worden decided to do what he had always done. He was going to play golf.
Worden was so overwhelmed by the care and compassion he’d experienced since his diagnosis, from other cancer patients, survivors, families, and especially his care team, that he wanted to give back. And the best way he knew how was to tee up a charity golf tournament. Four years later, the Dave Worden Classic has raised over $200,000 for melanoma research.
“Dana-Farber has the top research oncologists in the world,” says Worden. “They are working on incredible advances in cancer treatment including individual cancer vaccines with the ultimate goal of working towards a cure. That takes money and support.”
The Dave Worden Classic and the Jimmy Fund have worked together to raise funds for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to further research on curing cancer.
Together, to fight cancer.
After reality set in, and the surgeries and immunotherapy began at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Worden decided to do what he had always done. He was going to play golf.
Worden was so overwhelmed by the care and compassion he’d experienced since his diagnosis, from other cancer patients, survivors, families, and especially his care team, that he wanted to give back. And the best way he knew how was to tee up a charity golf tournament. Three years later, the Dave Worden Classic has raised nearly $150,000 for melanoma research.
“Dana-Farber has the top research oncologists in the world,” says Worden. “They are working on incredible advances in cancer treatment including individual cancer vaccines with the ultimate goal of working towards a cure. That takes money and support.”
It’s only natural that Worden would have chosen golf as the way to express his support and gratitude. He has been an avid golfer since he was 14 years old. He has spent a lifetime outdoors, walking the fairways and reading the greens for hours in the sun. Worden is of a generation that didn’t give a second thought to things like ultraviolet radiation and sunscreen. It just wasn’t something people thought about.
“My sisters used to lay out on our roof with baby oil,” says Worden. “I grew up, fair-skinned, on the water and on the golf course. No one in my family was worried about the sun.”
That’s why, upon that first diagnosis in 2001, Worden didn’t know what the term “melanoma” really meant.
“The worst thing you can do is type something into Google,” says Worden. “That’s how I discovered melanoma was the deadliest form of skin cancer.”
He also discovered, through more reputable sources than Google, that the most common cause of melanoma is over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds or the sun. He thought back to those long days on the links in the sunshine without protection. He realized that his lifelong hobby and passion was probably at the root of his condition.
That’s why, in addition to raising money for cancer research, Worden wanted his golf tournament to promote awareness of melanoma and the importance of things like sunscreen and ample clothing among his fellow golfers.
THE DAVE WORDEN CLASSIC
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"We’re just trying to make a difference. If I can help save one person’s life, then it will all have been worth it."
- DAVE WORDEN
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Worden has learned other things about melanoma through the years. And he hopes that because of his efforts, both on the golf course and in the media, he can help prevent others from experiencing this dreaded disease. Things he wants the public to know and understand include:
• The average age of someone diagnosed with melanoma is 63. The risk goes up as you
get older.
• Melanoma is among the most common types of cancer in people under 30, especially
in women.
• More men are diagnosed with melanoma than women—and more men die of the disease.
• Melanoma can occur in places that aren’t exposed to the sun, like your mouth or your
digestive tract.
• People with dark skin can still get melanoma.
For more facts and figures on melanoma, Worden directs people to dana-farber.org/skin-cancer for reliable information and data.
Cancer Patient Tees
Up a Benefit to Raise Money and Awareness of Melanoma
By StoryStudio on September 20, 2023
DONATE
Dave Worden, pictured here, is on a mission to raise awareness for melanoma. The Dave Worden Classic supports the Jimmy Fund which raises money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Help fight cancer
Finding a Calling
Worden’s prognosis of having 1½ to five years to live came four years ago—so he feels like he’s on borrowed time.
“I’m playing with house money,” he says.
On his most recent visit, he was told he will need his fifth surgery in four years to remove another cancerous tumor. All he can do for himself right now is follow the doctors’ orders, make it out to the golf course two or three times a week, and work with his wife to put together the annual tournament, which they help pay for with their own money—100% of the proceeds go to Dana-Farber, through the Jimmy Fund, to back cancer research.
“We’re just trying to make a difference,” says Worden. “If I can help save one person’s life, then it will all have been worth it. I can’t do anything about myself right now aside from what the doc tells me to do, but I can help other people. It’s become my calling.”
For more information about the Dave Worden Classic, visit www.thedavewordenclassic.com.
A Link to the Past
Not Just for Golfers
DONATE
Dave Worden, pictured here, is on a mission to raise awareness for melanoma. The Dave Worden Classic supports the Jimmy Fund which raises money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Help fight cancer
Worden has learned other things about melanoma through the years. And he hopes that because of his efforts, both on the golf course and in the media, he can help prevent others from experiencing this dreaded disease. Things he wants the public to know and understand include:
• The average age of someone diagnosed with
melanoma is 63. The risk goes up as you get older.
• Melanoma is among the most common types of
cancer in people under 30, especially in women.
• More men are diagnosed with melanoma than
women—and more men die of the disease.
• Melanoma can occur in places that aren’t exposed
to the sun, like your mouth or your digestive tract.
• People with dark skin can still get melanoma.
For more facts and figures on melanoma, Worden directs people to dana-farber.org/skin-cancer for reliable information and data.
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Dave Worden, pictured here, is on a mission to raise awareness for melanoma. The Dave Worden Classic supports the Jimmy Fund which raises money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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It’s only natural that Worden would have chosen golf as the way to express his support and gratitude. He has been an avid golfer since he was 14 years old. He has spent a lifetime outdoors, walking the fairways and reading the greens for hours in the sun. Worden is of a generation that didn’t give a second thought to things like ultraviolet radiation and sunscreen. It just wasn’t something people thought about.
“My sisters used to lay out on our roof with baby oil,” says Worden. “I grew up, fair-skinned, on the water and on the golf course. No one in my family was worried about the sun.”
That’s why, upon that first diagnosis in 2001, Worden didn’t know what the term “melanoma” really meant.
“The worst thing you can do is type something into Google,” says Worden. “That’s how I discovered melanoma was the deadliest form of skin cancer.”
He also discovered, through more reputable sources than Google, that the most common cause of melanoma is over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds or the sun. He thought back to those long days on the links in the sunshine without protection. He realized that his lifelong hobby and passion was probably at the root of his condition.
That’s why, in addition to raising money for cancer research, Worden wanted his golf tournament to promote awareness of melanoma and the importance of things like sunscreen and ample clothing among his fellow golfers.
Worden has learned other things about melanoma through the years. And he hopes that because of his efforts, both on the golf course and in the media, he can help prevent others from experiencing this dreaded disease. Things he wants the public to know and understand include:
• The average age of someone diagnosed with melanoma is 63. The risk goes up as you get older.
• Melanoma is among the most common types of cancer in people under 30, especially in women.
• More men are diagnosed with melanoma than women—and more men die of the disease.
• Melanoma can occur in places that aren’t exposed to the sun, like your mouth or your digestive tract.
• People with dark skin can still get melanoma.
For more facts and figures on melanoma, Worden directs people to dana-farber.org/skin-cancer for reliable information and data.
- DAVE WORDEN
"My dining experience was unmatched in the best way possible, I will definitely return."
The Dave Worden Classic and the Jimmy Fund have worked together to raise funds for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to further research on curing cancer.
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DAVE WORDEN CLASSIC
Worden’s prognosis of having 1½ to five years to live came four years ago—so he feels like he’s on borrowed time.
“I’m playing with house money,” he says.
On his most recent visit, he was told he will need his fifth surgery in four years to remove another cancerous tumor. All he can do for himself right now is follow the doctors’ orders, make it out to the golf course two or three times a week, and work with his wife to put together the annual tournament, which they help pay for with their own money—100% of the proceeds go to Dana-Farber, through the Jimmy Fund, to back cancer research.
“We’re just trying to make a difference,” says Worden. “If I can help save one person’s life, then it will all have been worth it. I can’t do anything about myself right now aside from what the doc tells me to do, but I can help other people. It’s become my calling.”
For more information about the Dave Worden Classic, visit www.thedavewordenclassic.com.
Cancer Patient Tees Up a Benefit to Raise Money and Awareness of Melanoma
It was summer 2019, and Dave Worden noticed a couple of bumps on his knee. He wasn’t too concerned. Almost two decades earlier, he had a suspicious mole removed from his left calf that turned out to be melanoma. He caught it early, before it spread, and after five years of treatment, his oncologist told him not to come back because they “only treated sick people,” he says.
Jokes aside, Worden readily admits that initial experience was terrifying—after all, he had been diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Because he had survived that scare; he figured he would pull through this latest one, too.
Then his doctor told him that these new lumps were different. This was metastatic melanoma, Stage 4, spreading aggressively through his body. Doctors gave Worden anywhere from five years to 18 months to live.
After reality set in, and the surgeries and immunotherapy began at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Worden decided to do what he had always done. He was going to play golf.
Worden was so overwhelmed by the care and compassion he’d experienced since his diagnosis, from other cancer patients, survivors, families, and especially his care team, that he wanted to give back. And the best way he knew how was to tee up a charity golf tournament. Three years later, the Dave Worden Classic has raised over $200,000 for melanoma research.
“Dana-Farber has the top research oncologists in the world,” says Worden. “They are working on incredible advances in cancer treatment including individual cancer vaccines with the ultimate goal of working towards a cure. That takes money and support.”
By StoryStudio on September 20, 2023
Help fight cancer
A Link to the Past
Not Just for Golfers
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Register now
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