Peggy and Bob's Story

Like so many people in the Tampa Bay area, Bob and Peggy Degling suffered extensive damage to their home during the hurricanes of 2024.

At the same time, Peggy Degling was receiving treatment for myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer that disrupts the body’s normal production of blood cells. 

Somehow, amid these very different challenges, the Deglings found a generous way to offer hope to others.

Devoted to Helping Others

The Deglings recently donated $100,000 toward myelofibrosis research at Moffitt Cancer Center. 

“We want to give people hope,” Bob Degling said. “We want to help researchers discover treatments for this disease that will give patients more time with their families. And of course, we hope they can eventually find a cure.”

Their gift establishes the Peggy and Bob Degling Myelofibrosis Cancer Research Fund. This initial funding will support research efforts to control or cure the disease and provide a vehicle for potential future grants under the leadership of Andrew Kuykendall, MD, of Moffitt’s Department of Malignant Hematology.

“I’m extremely grateful for and humbled by the Deglings’ generous investment in Moffitt Cancer Center’s myelofibrosis research, which is designed to help us discover and develop better treatment options for patients with this blood cancer,” Kuykendall said.

A Gift That Sparked More Giving

Another person impressed with the Deglings’ generosity is Mark Hobales, president of On the Mark Claim Adjusting. He’s a public insurance adjuster who visited the Deglings’ home shortly after severe flood damage from Hurricane Helene and wind damage a week later from Hurricane Milton. 

“What struck me the most was Peggy,” Hobales said. “Even while facing the destruction of her home, she was also fighting myelofibrosis, a very rare blood cancer with complex mutations that make treatment extremely challenging. On a day when she had every reason to feel defeated, she still carried a warmth and presence that stayed with me.”

Hobales was so moved that he also contributed to the fund, using a substantial portion of the fee that he received from the Deglings for working on their insurance claim.

“This fund honors two remarkable people and reflects the belief that even in moments of loss, we can create something meaningful and full of hope,” Hobales said.

While Peggy Degling continues to receive treatment at Moffitt, both she and Bob hope that future advances in myelofibrosis research will help many other patients and their families.

In addition to their recent donation, the Deglings are also members of the Moffitt Legacy Society and have named Moffitt as a major beneficiary in their trust.