Local Cancer Patient Surprised with $20,000 Gift

When cancer patient Clifford Ford Jr left home earlier this month, he had no idea that he was about to experience a life changing surprise. 

Cliff has become very used to leaving his peaceful, small-town community of Morton (located in the valley southwest of Mount Rainier National Park) to drive into Seattle for treatments at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. 

The surprise in question was put into motion when Cliff bought a new phone at a Round Room Verizon retailer. Shoppers around the country were being entered into the company's annual "Get 10, Give 10" program, where one lucky customer from more than 1,200 stores is randomly selected to receive $10,000 for themselves and $10,000 to give to a nonprofit organization of their choice. But because 2025 is the program's 20th anniverary, the company doubled that amount, awarding $20,000 to a customer and $20,000 to a nonprofit.

Enter Cliff Ford, who is battling cancer for the second time.

"I had bought a phone recently and I was randomly picked to receive a donation in my name, but it would be, you know, donated to a charitable organization that I approved of," recalled Cliff about the contest. "The University of Washington and Fred Hutch basically saved my life. I mean, they saved my life. There's no two ways about that. I would be dead right now if they hadn't got a hold of me when they did." So he knew right away which nonprofit would receive his donation should he win. 

"My father was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in November 2022, I believe," said Cliff's daughter, Jennifer. "I got a phone call that he was in the hospital and then we got together and found out what was going on... It was very, very difficult knowing that it's an inoperable tumor. How much time do we have with my father... That's the hardest part for us, not knowing." But the treatment at Fred Hutch is extending her father's life, and for that the family is immensely grateful.

When Cliff received the call that he was chosen to receive the award, he was under the impression that Fred Hutch would be getting $10,000. But during the presentation, Round Room brought out an additional $10,000 for Fred Hutch... and a $20,000 check for Cliff! The amount was a total surprise to him.

“I don’t get caught speechless very much," said Cliff, "but I was completely speechless by the donation to me and my family. This is going to make things so much easier on all of us."

Cliff was a shovel operator but had to retire when he was diagnosed with cancer. To earn extra income, he has been renting out some rooms in the big family homestead where he raised his five kids. That helps, but, as Cliff said, "We just, we get by." He added that he was flabbergasted by the donation. "Lord knows I've needed some help."

Jennifer said that her dad had been wanting to go back to work because of the bills. "All of us kids are doing what we can to help, but it's a struggle for us too... This is going to make things so much easier on him, and then we can get him to fully retire and just enjoy life instead of worrying about paying the bills." Everyone wants him to kick back and enjoy his life, along with his kids, 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Cliff and his family are also grateful for the contribution they can make to their favorite nonprofit. "The Fred Hutch Cancer Center has been amazing for my father. It makes us very happy that, you know, everything they've done for us, that the donation goes... to help other people with cancer... It just makes us feel very proud that we could actually help give something back to Fred Hutchinson."

Cliff Ford and his family with their $20,000 check, along with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center representatives with an additional $20,000 check

 

The award to Fred Hutch was also emotional for Chenda, the TCC regional director that was awarding the funds. She said that Fred Hutch treated her dad, whom she lost to cancer in 2017.  "They truly care about their patients, and they care about the families. And so hearing that it was these guys that we were giving back to..." She considered it a blessing to award the donation to Fred Hutch to continue their research.

Kelly O'Brien from Fred Hutch commented: "We were excited to receive a giant check... a donation made in Cliff Ford's name. One of our goals is to cure cancer for everyone. And so, these funds will go right to work supporting research in our labs so that more people can have the kind of experience Cliff is having. Living a happy life with his family and his community, living with cancer. The idea that people want to support our work is so meaningful to everyone working here... We are going to celebrate this. We're really grateful."

"My dad's always a giver and he's just never one of those people that's ever won anything or had anything given to him," said Jennifer. "He's always the one taking care of everybody. And then someone's helping to take care of him now is just amazing."

"I just appreciate all of you," said a beaming Cliff. "Thank you. I got to take the good, the good and what comes down the road. And if today's any proof of what's going to be coming down the road... and if that's all there is, I'm still going to be pretty happy."

You can watch the heartwarming surprise unfold at this video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=secTA25TAu0