Why We Prouty

Meghan Arthur has always loved cycling. Just last year, she cycled across the state of Iowa. One week later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her diagnosis wasn’t a surprise. Because of her family history, she knew her chances of developing breast cancer were elevated. Once the diagnosis came, she dove right into treatment. That’s when she discovered how truly comprehensive the patient care is at Dartmouth. Her providers worked seamlessly across departments to provide a level care of that reassured and comforted Meghan every step of the way. Today, she’s proud to channel her love of cycling toward supporting the phenomenal care that she and so many others have experienced at Dartmouth Cancer Center.

Dr. ‘tóyìn Aṣojò is a member of the Leadership Team at Dartmouth Cancer Center. In 2011, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Back then, she was already a busy researcher and a mother of two young kids, and the diagnosis took her completely by surprise. Thankfully, her treatment was successful – but it wasn’t easy. The treatment itself was a challenge. The side effects were a challenge. Even survivorship has been a challenge. But tóyìn doesn’t back away from a challenge. In fact, she’s here today to complete another challenge: walking 10k as part of The Prouty. She walks because she knows that what we do here today supports cancer research and helps bring care to countless people – just like her – who have to face a cancer diagnosis.

Because Tom Bird used to be a smoker, his Dartmouth doctor at Keene pushed and pushed him to get a lung screening. Tom credits that doctor with saving his life, because that screening revealed lung cancer, and started him on his road to recovery. It’s been five years since Dartmouth’s Dr. Rian Hassan performed the surgery that saved Tom’s life, and Tom’s been a proud advocate for regular screening ever since. His screening this year is how he discovered new cancer on his lung. Tom is once again a patient, but he’s not worried. Thanks to early detection and his team at Dartmouth, he knows he’s in the right place at the right time for the best possible outcome. Which is why he and his children and grandchildren were so excited to walk in this year’s Prouty.

As far back as they can remember, Greta Close, her brother Bridger and their mother Kristin, knew the Prouty as something loved by their father and husband, Stu Close. No one expected that one day, Stu himself would be a patient at Dartmouth Cancer Center. But in 2012, that’s what happened. Stu was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and for the next twelve plus years, through surgery, radiation and clinical trials, providers at Dartmouth became an extension of the Close family. Sadly, Stu passed away this past April. For his wife Kristin, his kids Greta and Bridger, and all the people on their team, Stu’s Crew, continuing on with The Prouty wasn’t a question – it was an imperative. A way to continue Stu’s Prouty legacy while giving other patients like him more hope.

When Julian Devlin was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2015, he quickly learned that even awful things can be made better when you’re surrounded by the right people. The first example of this was his wife, who helped make an overwhelming experience as smooth as possible for Julian, all while caring for their four young children. The second example was the staff at Dartmouth Cancer Center. Throughout treatment, Julian felt safe with the knowledge that every person on his care team was doing absolutely everything they could to help him get well. Julian is now approaching 10 years cancer free, and he’s resolved to make something good out of his cancer experience. That’s what led him – and his kids – to join the Prouty community and help spread hope across the Upper Valley.

Byron Haynes was only six years old when he lost his grandfather to cancer. At the time, he didn’t understand much about what was happening. But looking back, one thing seems clear: if his grandfather had access to today’s research and advancements, he would have lived much longer. That’s what led Byron to ride his first century with the Prouty in 1983. Over the last 40+ years, Byron has shared a tremendous amount of time and talent with the Prouty, helping organize and serving on the board of the Dirty Project – a unique gravel ride that benefits The Prouty. And today he’s here to complete his 30th 100-mile Prouty ride, demonstrating his commitment to doing whatever he can to help cancer patients live longer lives with the ones they love.

When Rebecca McCown’s husband Chris was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, she quickly learned that cancer doesn’t just affect the patient – it affects the whole family. As Chris contended with treatment and surgeries, Rebecca navigated the almost impossible task of being open with her son about Chris’s illness without instilling him with fear or anxiety. Thankfully, the McCowns weren’t alone. In addition to expert care for Chris, Dartmouth provided additional support that benefitted the whole family – including social services that helped their son understand his father’s cancer journey. Rebecca wanted to find a way to support the Dartmouth community that helped her and her family so much. That’s why, for the last few years, she’s volunteered in the Prouty yoga tent, helping cyclists unwind after their rides, as a way to show her gratitude for the many “extras” that Dartmouth’s provides – for the patient and everyone who loves them.

As an undergrad studying cancer, Erika Moen learned two things that would shape her life and her career. The first was that cancer poses an incredibly complex public health problem. The second was that the only way to find solutions to that problem is through rigorous research. Fast forward to today. Erika leads a multidisciplinary research team at Dartmouth that strives to solve those problems and bring high quality cancer care to rural communities across America. She has made Dartmouth her research home for two reasons: The first is that nobody does rural healthcare quite like Dartmouth. The second reason… is you. Prouty funds have been integral in getting Erika’s team up and running. And she is determined to use those funds to help as many patients as possible.

John Seelen is a lifelong swimmer who competes in swimming events all over the country. While returning from a competition in California last summer, he had life-threatening seizures that landed him in Dartmouth’s Neurological Critical Care unit. While he was there, an MRI revealed a brain tumor. He was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma – a brain cancer that can be treated, but not cured. Ever since his diagnosis, John has been treated by Dartmouth providers both at Dartmouth Cancer Center and at his local hospital, Cheshire Medical Center – a member of the Dartmouth Health system. And he believes it’s only because of that outstanding physical and emotional support that he’s been able to return to swimming competitively and live his best life with a brain cancer diagnosis.