September 23, 2022

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — The Hollidaysburg-based Sideline Cancer basketball team has donated over $300,000 to pancreatic cancer research, given over $10,000 to patients directly, and were The Basketball Tournament runners up in 2020.
The latest thing they’re adding to their resume — doesn’t have to do with basketball or cancer — it’s helping to save someone from a war-torn country.
Here’s how it happened…
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On February 5, 2010, Greg was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic and liver cancer in the prime of his life. He was told that time was limited.
However, on hearing his diagnosis, he said to his doctor, Dr. A. James Moser, “What can Cathy and I do to help you?” The doctors were amazed to hear this question from a terminally ill patient.
From there, a new trajectory for pancreatic cancer began. Instead of a medical tragedy, this event became the beginning of a very beautiful story.
God blessed Greg and his family with the gift of 19 miraculous months. Throughout this period, Greg made a tremendous difference in many people’s lives by being an example of how one can persist through intense hardship.
Greg Griffith’s legacy was his ability to lead and connect with people and communities. His legacy of love is a true manifestation of “I CAN” Sideline Cancer. It is the I CAN attitude and Believe Always Spirit he displayed that inspires students of every age to use their entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropic ideas to transform the outcome of pancreatic cancer.
The initial campaign slogan of the Griffith Family Foundation’s youth initiative was “Tackle Cancer.”
Through this initiative, hundreds of local students rallied to take part in a cause that was bigger than themselves.
In 2012, Cathy had the privilege of meeting the Intel Science and Engineer fair winner Jack Andraka.
Cathy shared Greg’s story and told Jack about the energy building through the Foundation’s youth initiative. Jack expressed great interest in the effort and even volunteered to participate himself. However, he suggested that our original “Tackle Cancer” slogan was too limited.
Cathy’s son, who is a teacher and basketball coach, and another devoted teacher and family friend, came up with the slogan “Sideline Cancer.” Shortly after that, a student pointed out the “I CAN” within the slogan, which is what led the Griffith Family Foundation to officially trademark SIDELINE CANCER®.
Jack Andraka went on to become the ambassador for Sideline Cancer and inspired many other students to believe that they can be a change in our world.
Today, Sideline Cancer is a fast-growing brand with over 17,000 t-shirts sold in it’s 11 year history.
In 2014, as the Sideline Cancer message and t-shirts were quickly growing in popularity, an amazing opportunity presented itself. Lifelong friend and basketball coach Billy Clapper asked Cathy if he could put a Sideline Cancer basketball team together to participate in the inaugural The Basketball Tournament (“TBT”).
Because Greg was a lifelong fan of basketball, Cathy saw that getting involved with TBT would be a fitting way to honor Greg’s legacy and a great opportunity to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer.
For the past 8 years, our Sideline Cancer TBT team has excelled on and off the court in raising awareness for pancreatic cancer. On the court, our Sideline Cancer TBT team went to the final in the very first COVID bubble tournament in 2020. Off the court, awareness for pancreatic cancer has grown, as TBT now airs in over 197 countries on ESPN.
The outstanding efforts of our Sideline Cancer TBT team has been the inspiration behind the formation of several Sideline Cancer AAU basketball teams. These next generations of basketball players are proudly wearing their purple with an I CAN attitude and Believe Always Spirit for all pancreatic cancer patients, families, and communities across the nation.
Many pancreatic cancer patients follow our basketball team and foundation activities. One such person is pancreatic cancer survivor, Rick Jones. On New Years Eve 2015, Cathy Griffith received a call from Rick Jones who told her, “I have Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. Where do I go from here?”
Rick is an accountant in Bedford, PA and loving husband and father to three daughters. A friend of Rick’s knew of the Griffith Family Foundation and gave Rick Cathy’s cell number.
Once Cathy heard that Rick had Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Cancer, she immediately connected him to Dr. Moser at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School.
Appointments were quickly made, and Dr. Moser was able to surgically remove the pancreatic cancer. Dr. Moser was also able to refer Rick to UPMC Pittsburgh for a liver transplant (read more about that amazing story).
Today, Rick leads a normal and active life with his family and partners at his accounting firm. Although Rick is not considered “cancer free,” he is considered to be in stable/normal condition by his medical team and will continue to be routinely monitored.
In 2015, Rick attended and spoke at our Sideline Cancer Dinner. In 2019, he participated as a panel member at our Pancreatic Cancer Symposium.
Helping to save Rick’s life is one of the greatest examples of how the Griffith Family Foundation and Sideline Cancer connect patients, doctors, and communities to sideline pancreatic cancer.
Interestingly, while Rick was undergoing treatment, he participated in a DNA testing study with the University of Washington in Seattle where they determined his gene sequencing. Doctors did gene sequencing for his entire family, including his mother and father, brother and sister, uncles and cousins.
In their examination, it was discovered that Rick was missing a particular gene in his sequencing.
From there, doctors looked at the entire population of Rick’s family to see if anyone else was missing the gene. This study is now being used to help many others.
As noted by Dr. Anirban Maitra at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the current national guidelines recommend that all patients with pancreatic cancer undergo genetic testing, not just those with a family history of the disease.
These studies show that nearly 10% of pancreatic cancer patients have an abnormal DNA alteration in their blood, and these tests are able to detect that abnormality.
This testing is important for two reasons:
Since this genetic testing has become part of the guidelines, many insurance companies are paying for the test. Additionally, as the tests become more sophisticated, the cost of administering the test has been reduced from thousands of dollars just a few years ago to around $250 today. Also, these tests don’t require blood samples anymore. The tests are advanced enough to only require a patient’s saliva.
From 2010 through 2021, the Griffith Family Foundation has donated over $300,000 to pancreatic cancer research and raises awareness internationally.
The Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation continues in 2022 to connect with communities all around the world through their ongoing memberships and support of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition and the Digestive Diseases National Coalition.
From LEANN STEFAN PHOTOGRAPHY:
It was an absolute perfect day to golf and spend the day with the Sideline Cancer Family!! It was so wonderful to meet everyone and capture all of the fun.
Follow the link SIDELINE CANCER GOLF TOURNAMENT 2021 to see all of the photos from the event!
1st Place (55)
Kaleb Fleck
Levi Delozier
Grant Delozier
Danny Stubbs
2nd Place (56)
Eric Kozak
George Kozak
Trent Martin
Garret Shaw
3rd Place (57)
Terry Burgan
Charlie Harten
Keith Saleme
Brian Hall
1st Place (64)
Lisa Georgiana
Susan Robison Fruchtl
Terry Goldstein
Dr. Sahaney
2nd Place (66)
Jackie Lantzy
Katie Whysong
Jenny Beach
Cory Tubo
1st Place (59)
Chris Sisto
Dianne Stewart
Tick Shaeffer
Peggy Smith
2nd Place (65)
Kim McCarl
Rox Sky
Cindy Trimarco
Michelle Day
Closest to Pin #2 (Men) – Aaron Peterman – 6′ 3″
Closest to Pin #2 (Women) – Patty Brouse – 13′ 4″
Closest 2nd Shor #6 – Kaleb Fleck
Closest to Pin #8 (Men) – Brad Kessler – 10′ 2″
Closest to Pin #8 (Women) – Cindy Trimarco – 9′ 1″
Longest Drive #9 (Men) – Brain Hall
Longest Putt #10 – Frank Pallott Jr.
Closest to Pin #12 (Men) – Brian Hall – 6′ 11″
Closest to Pin #12 (Women) – Susan Robinson – 12′ 11″
Longest Drive #14 (Women) – Jackie Lanzy
Closest to Line #16 – Ryan Keller
Closest to Pin #17 (Men) – Levi Delozier
Closest to Pin #17 (Women) – Peggy Smith
Longest Putt #18 – John Higgins
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WJAC) — Saturday morning, high school student Sydney Lear learned the game of basketball while playing for a bigger purpose.
“It’s fun to be playing for a bigger cause, something bigger than basketball,” she told 6 News…
Click here to read the rest of the article and to watch the story ->
by: Tiffany Rizzo
Posted: Jun 18, 2021 / 09:05 AM EDT / Updated: Jun 18, 2021 / 09:05 AM EDT
“BLAIR COUNTY, Pa (WTAJ) — One local organization is “teeing off” today to help find a cure for pancreatic cancer.
Over the past 10 years, the Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation have raised over $130,000 through their golf tournament at the Scotch Valley Country Club…”
Click here to read the rest of the article and watch the interview ->
To all our Sideline Cancer TBT family,
Preparations for the 2021 TBT are well underway!
We are thrilled to announce that the 2020 Sideline Cancer TBT Basketball Team is advancing to the FINALS!
On Saturday July 20, 2019 in the sweltering heat, Cathy and crew were in New York City to photograph and record the Griffith Family Foundation’s message of hope being broadcast on Times Square.