The lovely Sarah and I are flying to Tucson on Tuesday, March 5, for the Cologuard Classic, the PGA golf tournament presented by Exact Sciences.
An important aspect of the tournament is that it brings together the colorectal cancer advocacy community. A number of organizations and their advocates will be in Tucson to gather, raise awareness, enjoy the tournament, and spend time together.
I’m going on behalf of Man Up to Cancer, and will be part of the kickoff for the next cohort of the Fight Colorectal Cancer Research Advocacy Training and Support Program.
I’m most looking forward to spending time with people I love, but I’m also looking forward to reconnecting with Kevin Conroy, the CEO of Exact Sciences.
Exact Sciences has a very special place in my heart and my cancer journey.
The company gave me my first opportunity to share my cancer story in front of a ballroom full of people.
It was an item on the bucket list I kept at the time.
“Give a motivational/inspirational speech to a ballroom full of people.”
Another was to meet Kevin because the work his company is doing, to make early detection of cancer easier and faster, was and continues to be awe inspiring.
He is still one of my heroes.
Through the magic of social media, I was featured as the Hero of the Month in the Exact Sciences October 2013 newsletter.
When I tweeted out my bucket list a few months later, the communications folks at the company reached out.
They wanted to help cross two items of my list.
Cologuard wasn’t yet in the market in July 2014, and FDA approval was imminent.
I was invited to speak at their first-ever national sales team meeting.
I was due to take the stage in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 14, 2014.
The night of the big event was amazing.
I got the chance to rehearse using a teleprompter, speaking to an empty ballroom.
By the way, if you ever get a chance to rehearse like that, take it. I felt so much more comfortable when the big moment came.
After rehearsal I met Kevin. For me, it was not unlike meeting a rock star — heart flutters and all.
What’s not to like?
Kevin is passionate about the work of his company, and he wants to change the world.
There was fire in his eyes.
As the sales team entered the ballroom, their energy was palpable.
Everyone was excited to be there, but they didn’t know me from Adam’s cat. I definitely knew I would have to outperform the rehearsal I had just done.
Kevin opened the session with a brief history of the company and an invitation for everyone to soak up as much information as they could during the four days they would be together.
Then he introduced me.
I bounded to the stage to Phillip Phillips’s “Raging Fire.”
I love these lyrics:
“If you listen close, you’ll hear the sounds
Of all the ghosts that bring us down
Hold on to what makes you feel
Don’t let go, it’s what makes you real
If the flame goes out tonight
Yeah, we live until we die.”
On stage, Kevin and I shook hands and we hugged.
Then he stepped away.
There I was.
My big moment.
Alone on stage.
No podium, just me and the words I’d written scrolling by on the teleprompter.
I shared the challenges and difficulties of my cancer experience, from diagnosis through treatment to being declared cancer free.
I shared the lessons I learned.
Gratitude and Eucharisteo.
My bucket list.
I urged the Exact Sciences folks to be successful because the people who get screened and treated early will live on to create bucket lists of their own.
People laughed where I hoped they would laugh.
I could hear sniffles from those who cried.
Through the stage lights I could see Kevin’s eyes, big as saucers, a big smile his face.
I’m not sure what he and his leadership team expected, but I think I delivered.
Afterward, there was a reception.
I got the opportunity to meet many members of the team, some of whom shared stories of their loved ones who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Some of those stories were told wistfully and with smiles, others through tears.
There were hugs and handshakes.
Someone noticed the rainbow over the lake and we agreed it was a good sign.
It was a beautiful evening.
After that night, I asked Kevin to write the foreward to my book, which he did.
I’ve also been paired with a pro playing in the Cologuard Classic the last two years. Thanks Brian Gay (2023) and Doug Barron (2022).
And all along, I’ve been following the progress of Exact Sciences. I’m still blown away by what they’re doing and what they plan to do.
I look forward to seeing Kevin again, spending time with friends, and being part of next week’s event.
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