Turning One Woman’s Cancer Journey Into Hope for Others
Key Takeaways:
- June Rogers faced Stage 4 colon cancer while continuing to play competitive tennis
- The June Rogers Foundation for Colon Cancer Research was created in her memory after her death in 2021, with a mission to support people and families affected by cancer
- The Foundation helped create and continues to support Moffitt Cancer Center’s Young Onset Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinic, which provides coordinated care, practical support and research opportunities for adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50
Most athletes who played against June Rogers in the United States Tennis Association League had no idea she was competing with a chemotherapy pack hidden beneath her clothes.
Three years before her team qualified for the 2020 National Championships, Rogers was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer at age 53.
June Rogers was diagnosed with colon cancer in the fall of 2017.
From The Tennis Court to a Lasting Legacy
When Rogers died in 2021, several of her tennis friends, including Allison Townsend, helped establish The June Rogers Foundation for Colon Cancer Research in her honor. The organization’s mission is to help colorectal cancer patients receive coordinated care, practical support and access to innovative research.
“June is the heart of our foundation, but we are fighting for every patient and family that is dealing with a cancer diagnosis,” Townsend said.
Through fundraising and community engagement, the foundation has supported colorectal cancer research and patient-care initiatives at Moffitt Cancer Center, including the creation of Moffitt’s Young Onset Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinic.
Established in partnership with Moffitt’s Adolescent and Young Adult Program and the June Rogers Foundation, the Young Onset Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinic brings clinical care, personalized support and research together for adults ages 18 to 49 diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Teamwork in Action
Jennifer Permuth, PhD, vice chair of research in Moffitt’s Gastrointestinal Oncology Department, helped establish the initiative and leads its research efforts. The clinic’s co-directors are Tiago Biachi de Castria, MD, PhD, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist, and Amalia Stefanou, MD, a colorectal surgeon.
“Young adults are navigating cancer at the same time they may be building careers and families. The clinic brings the right people, information and resources together so patients do not have to navigate those challenges alone — and so we can learn from their experiences to improve care for those who come next,” Permuth said.
The multidisciplinary team helps patients navigate treatment, genetic testing, fertility and sexual health, emotional well-being, survivorship and opportunities to participate in research.
Helping Young Adults Navigate More Than Cancer
Eloise Wein, the clinic’s care coordinator, serves as a consistent point of contact, helping patients understand available resources, overcome barriers and connect with the appropriate members of their care team. Jack Levy is one of the patients Wein connects with regularly. He was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 39.
“Eloise is always there when I have a question or need some guidance,” Levy said. “Going through this journey can be overwhelming, and she has shown a lot of support, whether it’s answering questions or helping me figure out where I need to go, it really has made a difference for me.”
A Growing Impact
David Curry, a senior gift officer for Moffitt’s Foundation, says continued efforts to improve patient care through clinics like the Young-Onset GI Clinic are made possible in part by support from organizations such as the June Rogers Foundation.
“Although I never met June, through meeting her husband, her son, her parents and her friends, I feel like I know her,” Curry said. “The spirit of June Rogers lives in the lives of her family, her friends, her caregivers at Moffitt, in people like me who never met her, and in countless others.’”
“Fight Like June” is more than a phrase. It is a reminder of the strength, determination and compassion Rogers carried with her throughout her battle with cancer — and a call to carry that spirit forward. Through the June Rogers Foundation, her legacy continues to give young patients like Levy access to the care, resources and support they need to face a diagnosis of their own.
