Rangers legend Ron Duguay has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, he told Page Six, and his family has since created a GoFundMe page to help cover some of the costs.
Duguay, 68, told Page Six the cancer originated in the colon and he’s been fighting the disease for more than a year, having lost his appendix and gallbladder.
“I find it extremely hard asking for funds for all these costs I’m going through,” Duguay said to Page Six.
“Normally, I’m helping others.”
He added that the cancer “sucks the life out of you,” and is “so freaking costly.”
His daughters wrote on the GoFundMe page that the donations would help cover travel, treatments, holistic care and potential new treatments.
“Our dad has never been someone who asks for help…especially when it comes to money,” Duguay’s daughters wrote in their appeal, which has generated more than $31,000 as of Wednesday morning. “He has always tried to handle everything on his own and didn’t want to burden anyone else with what he’s going through. But after many conversations as a family, we decided to create this fundraiser for him because we’ve seen firsthand the weight this battle has placed on him, both physically and financially.
“Because of his cancer, he hasn’t been able to work the way he normally would, yet he continues to fight with everything he has.”
Duguay, 68, is a part of Rangers lore, having helped the team reach the 1979 Stanley Cup Final after being selected with the No. 13 pick in the 1977 NHL Draft.
He also later served as an analyst for MSG Network.
Duguay’s daughters noted in their campaign that the prior treatment the father received in Florida “nearly cost him his life,” which led to them shifting him to Orange County in California to be closer to them.
“However, this now requires him to fly from Florida to Orange County every two weeks for ongoing treatment,” the daughters wrote. “The cost of constant travel, along with medical care, holistic therapies, supplements, and alternative healing approaches he has committed to, has become extremely overwhelming financially.
“Recently, his cancer numbers have started to rise again, and while he continues his current treatments, we are now exploring additional treatment options outside of the United States in hopes of giving him the best possible chance. These treatments are very expensive and add another layer of financial strain during an already difficult time.”
Duguay added to Page Six that the cancer numbers spiked again, which has led to him considering the alternative approaches.
“I am going to do all the alternative along with the Western medicine,” Duguay sad to Page Six. “What I am learning I will be able to share with others.”
He added: “I need to get better so I can help others.”
One of Duguay’s daughters, Shay, posted an emotional video to Instagram with a caption revealing that her father is “doing everything he possibly can.”
“From Living Antioxidant Water, blood ozone therapy, IV vitamin drips, ivermectin, methylene blue, and countless holistic approaches, while also continuing City of Hope’s chemo protocol and undergoing major surgery on both his liver and colon,” Shay wrote in her Instagram posted Tuesday. “He is all in. Every single day. And through it all, his faith has never wavered.”
Duguay initially played for the Rangers from 1977-83 before returning for parts of the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons, and also laced up the skates for the Red Wings, Kings and Penguins in a 12-season career.
He tallied 274 goals and 346 assists in his career, and made his lone All-Star appearance during the 1981-82 season with the Rangers.
Duguay spent 12 years calling games for the Rangers on MSG Network before being dismissed in 2018.
