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Pediatric Brain Cancer Fundraiser - Hogs for the Cause Festival April 4-5, 2025
Dean Elkins
Dean Elkins
Please help me support Hogs for the Cause, and families with children battling brain cancer all over the country, by making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar raised will advance Hogs for the Cause's support of families battling this terrible disease. Together, we can make a difference!
My connection to the cause: My oldest brother, Eric Elkins, was diagnosed in March 1996 with Glioblastoma Multiforme. He was 44 at the time. The surgeon who removed the orange-sized tumor from behind his left eye told us in the waiting area he had removed the mass, but it was impossible to remove the microscopic cancer cells and the cancer was going to return. Even with chemo and radiation, within a year, the tumor was back to its original size and the cancer had metastasized to his brain stem. He was gone thirteen months after his initial diagnosis and surgery. My big brother was nine and a half years older than me and was my hero. He was a blue-chip football and track athlete, highly recruited by numerous Division 1 schools. In the Spring of 1970, he broke the world high school indoor record in the 120-yard high hurdles at the Astrodome Invitational, defeating Rodney Milburn from Opelousas, Louisiana. An eight year-old kid at the time, I'll never forget seeing the World Record announcement go across the giant scoreboard in the Astrodome. Milburn went on to win the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Munich in 1972 in the 110 meter hurdles. Also in 1970, Eric signed to play football at Texas A&M under coach Gene Stallings. As a big brother, I don't remember a single unkind word coming from my brother towards me. He took me fishing and showed me the proper way to fish a strawberry worm for largemouth bass. He loved the movies and would take me to Prestonwood Theater in Dallas to see triple-features of The Marx Brothers. He died on April 30, 1997 after a thirteen-month battle with brain cancer...almost 28 years ago. He was a grown man when he was taken by cancer. Being a father, I cannot imagine seeing my child suffer with brain cancer. Please help me help families who are in a battle for the life of their children. Thank you!
My connection to the cause: My oldest brother, Eric Elkins, was diagnosed in March 1996 with Glioblastoma Multiforme. He was 44 at the time. The surgeon who removed the orange-sized tumor from behind his left eye told us in the waiting area he had removed the mass, but it was impossible to remove the microscopic cancer cells and the cancer was going to return. Even with chemo and radiation, within a year, the tumor was back to its original size and the cancer had metastasized to his brain stem. He was gone thirteen months after his initial diagnosis and surgery. My big brother was nine and a half years older than me and was my hero. He was a blue-chip football and track athlete, highly recruited by numerous Division 1 schools. In the Spring of 1970, he broke the world high school indoor record in the 120-yard high hurdles at the Astrodome Invitational, defeating Rodney Milburn from Opelousas, Louisiana. An eight year-old kid at the time, I'll never forget seeing the World Record announcement go across the giant scoreboard in the Astrodome. Milburn went on to win the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Munich in 1972 in the 110 meter hurdles. Also in 1970, Eric signed to play football at Texas A&M under coach Gene Stallings. As a big brother, I don't remember a single unkind word coming from my brother towards me. He took me fishing and showed me the proper way to fish a strawberry worm for largemouth bass. He loved the movies and would take me to Prestonwood Theater in Dallas to see triple-features of The Marx Brothers. He died on April 30, 1997 after a thirteen-month battle with brain cancer...almost 28 years ago. He was a grown man when he was taken by cancer. Being a father, I cannot imagine seeing my child suffer with brain cancer. Please help me help families who are in a battle for the life of their children. Thank you!
Not only does cancer take an enormous toll on the mental and physical health of the patients and its family members – it also has a tremendous financial impact. The costs associated with childhood cancer make it a struggle for families to get by and meet their needs while also being able to get their child to lifesaving treatment. For families already living in poverty, these difficulties are often multiplied.
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$5,524
raised of $5,000 goal
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