A Letter from George P. Emerson

Dear Friends:

When I sat down to write this letter I did not know how I would be able to ask each of you for help in such a difficult time.  I thought about the economic crisis, the failing stock market, home foreclosures – there are so many uncertainties and obstacles facing each of us. I sat with pen and paper and couldn’t write a word.  I got ready to leave my desk and as I did I noticed my reflection in the mirror next to me. I looked at the scars on my neck from my radiation treatments, and I remembered the long winter days when I battled the disease.  I thought about how afraid I was during that time, and I thought about how I would have given up everything I owned to be cancer-free.  I left the room rubbing my neck and thinking about all of the people who were told “You have cancer” this year.  The disease didn’t care how much money anyone made this year, the disease didn’t care if the stock market dropped 50%, it didn’t care about the economy.  That is when I knew I had to ask you for help because there are still over 500,000 people dying of cancer who need our help this year despite the economic crisis. So many charitable organizations have been hit hard by the economy, and Massey Cancer Center is no exception.  Massey needs our help more than ever to fight this disease.  Massey needs each one of us to make a small sacrifice to save millions of lives.  I know that we all have to make difficult choices this year about which organizations we can support, and I am asking you to make the choice to support Massey.  I am asking you to remember that 1 out of 2 men and 1 out of 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer and your support may be saving the life of a husband, wife, child, family member or friend.

This year the Highlands Massey Classic will be held on September 9th and 10th, 2009 at The Country Club at The Highlands. Last year The Highlands Massey Classic donated over $295,000 to the VCU Massey Cancer Center through the Highlands fund.  

Please fill out the enclosed registration form and be as generous as you can in your pledge. Whether a survivor, family member, or friend of a survivor, cancer affects all of us and this event is one way we can fight for a cure.

Very truly yours,

George P. Emerson, Jr.