June 6, 2025 • 32 mins
On May 3 there was the Kentucky Derby and Ron's Run for the Roses.
Held at the Farmington Polo Grounds, Ron's Run raises money and awareness for pancreatic cancer and supports individuals and families affected by this aggressive cancer. Dave met with family members and friends to talk with them about Ron, the foundation and how this organization makes a difference in so many people's lives.
@ronfoleyfoundation
https://www.ronfoleyfoundation.org/
@dlm_pro
https://www.directlinemediaproductions.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
That's good. So that's good. You'reyou're resilient.
(00:02):
I'm resilient. We're resilient. Right.
So yeah,you learned a valuable lesson then.
And then my neighborin the following year, he's up on a tree.
He's like 20ft highand he's with a sore channel remember.
And I told him my storyand he looked at me like.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Not going to happen to me.
Yeah. Okay.
Yeah. And didn't thank God.
But hopefully did a meal trainfor him. Right.
(00:22):
And yeah, yeah.
Dropped off that lasagna and said yeah.
Remember what I told you, right?
Yeah. No, it was, you had that hurt.
Oh. Got it hurt.
Yeah.
No, I mean, I think going up on laddersis not something I,
you know, cleaning my own gutters,those type of thing is sort of
like the risk reward on
it has gotten to the point where I'm like,you know what, I want to outsource.
I do my own landscaping.
(00:43):
I do a lot of things around the house.
I don't outsource everything, butthey're allowed getting up on a ladder.
I've got a got a high roof.
I came home for the hospital.
Both apple trees were gone.
My wife had someone come in and calm down.
He's like, you know what, I'm goingto make sure this doesn't happen again.
Yeah, yeah.
Well, so yeah. So anyway, so,
they call you Hinkle?
(01:03):
They do? Yeah. Yeah. So what?
Tell me a little about yourself.
How are you involved in the, RonFoley Foundation?
Run for the roses? Yeah.
So I've actually,I've been part of it since the beginning.
So, I'm actually married to Kate.
Kate is Barbara's daughter.
Only daughter?
We got married in 2007,so the first Ron's run was 2005.
(01:26):
I believe, if my memory serves me correct.
And the first, Ron's Ron, was, KentuckyDerby event in Barbara's backyard.
You know, it was small.
A lot of family, you know, few friends.
And, you know, it's grown.
It's obviously considerably since then.
Yeah, we've been through several venues,up until now, but it's been
(01:47):
it's been a very rewarding,
activity to be part of.
Right. And not becauseI've been a huge driver. Right?
I mean, Barbara has been thethe beating heart of this organization
since the beginning, but it's been funto play a variety of roles over the years.
Mostly labor, you know, I,you know, a lot of carrying things.
(02:08):
Hauling things, you know,running out in the truck last minute,
you know, building things at night, doingPowerPoints, whatever,
whatever the job called for.
You know, we all rallied around Barbarato, to help grow this,
you know, Ron was an important personin all of our lives.
And, you know, that's always,
you know, that's always kind of beenthe focus, right?
(02:30):
Is is, you know, his memoryand then translating his memory into how
we can help others that have, you know,gone through similar circumstances.
So, you know, it's been a fun journeythus far.
Yeah. Barb's a sweetheart.
I've known her for a little while,and it's amazing to see this event.
Yeah. How it's grown.
Yeah.
Now, I wasn't I didn't know herwhen it was in her backyard, but,
(02:52):
there's another place up the roadwhere it was, and.
And they came here,and this is just. Absolutely. Yeah.
I've seen Simsbury volley Farm.
Yeah. That's right.Yeah, yeah. Or Folly Farm.
Folly farm.
Yeah. Yeah.
So you knew, Ron, I did okay. Yeah.
So I actually had the privilege
of knowing Ronfor trying to think exact dates here.
But probably 2 or 3 years, prior to diagnosis.
(03:15):
So then ultimately,you know, his passing away in 2005, and,
you know, given that, you know, history
transpired the way that it did, and Kateand I got married and I became part
of the family, having that connectionhas been incredible, right?
Because, you know, he still is,is a beacon and a lot of great memories
(03:35):
that, you know, that we,we still share together.
And so knowing him and having
that personal relationshipis, has been meaningful for me.
And what what a tribute.
I mean, Barb does not just every year,that this time, but all year,
all year out.
I it's not only helping other peoplethat are,
you know,and it's not just pancreatic cancer too.
I think it's just awareness of cancer,period.
(03:57):
Absolutely. And everybody's suffering.And and she does that all year round.
And she's,I mean, you wouldn't even think that she
runs an organization like this.
She's just you would never. But she's.Because she's amazing.
Yeah.
And she's alwaysshe's always thinking about it.
Always noodling.
No matter where she is,she'll see something, whether it's,
you know, you know,whether it's, you know, decor, right?
(04:17):
For the setting or maybe it's, you know, an auction item.
She's always she's always noodle,and it's always top of mind.
You know, in a lot of ways, it'ssort of become part of who she is
and her identity.And I think that's that's really cool.
What was what was Ron like?
I don't know too much. I've never met him.
I've heard a couple of stories hereand there, but I don't really know.
(04:38):
How did you know?What's your memory. Of. Yeah.
So my my memory of Ron, you know, bigyou know, he is very quiet guy.
But if you were in his innercircle, right.
He was he was big personality.
You know, he's very devotedto his family, you know, love to fish.
Love to have a good time.
(04:59):
Love to joke around.
You know, he was, you know, he washe was a driving force in a lot of the,
the social events in, in their family and,you know, very successful
businessman as well.
And so,
you know, there was definitely, you know,part of our relationship, which was,
you know, me asking questions.
(05:19):
I was starting my career. Right.
And I think at that at the timewhen he and I first met,
I actually didn't have a job right hereI am dating his daughter.
No job that went over well, and.Yeah, exactly.
But, you know, I was grinding it out
and, he, he had said to me,
you know, he,
he gave me some ultimatum of, hey,if you don't have a job in 90 days, right,
(05:42):
this, this relationshipand I can go any further.
He always like to say that I pulled it outon, you know, whatever
it was, the,you know, the 49th day, right in 50 was.
That was the mark. So, but he,
like I said,
I, I still recite things that he told meabout about business.
And, you know, he was,
(06:02):
he was differentbecause he was, from a different era
where they, you know, he showed upat travelers at a college and,
you know, started, you know, the mailroomor wherever in a while
worked his way upto to CFO, of the company, and,
you know, took the company through,you know, some, some big acquisitions,
(06:22):
and ultimately was at the helm when,they became part of Citigroup.
So he had, you know, some pretty,
pretty interesting stories,you know, with some of the,
the big moguls of that day,you know, Sandy, while and Jamie Diamond
and these names that, you know,anybody would know, but very humble.
Never forgot his roots where he came from,which was Whalen, Massachusetts.
(06:46):
And, yeah, just a sweetheart of a guy.
So he was still working when, you know,where was your title?
He was retired.
He was retired.
But, you know, given that I was trying to
trying to kind of chartmy path and my career, you know,
it was something that I was constantlytrying to kind of pepper people with.
Hey, what about this?
What do you think about this companyand those types of things?
(07:07):
And, you know,he was impressed with my first job
was at Lehman Brothers,which was, an investment bank.
And, you know, he washe thought that was pretty cool.
But, you know,the one thing that he didn't see in
his lifetime was that the companyactually went bankrupt in 2008.
Yeah. And I remember that.
During the financial crisis.
So, yeah.
(07:28):
No, he was, he was a great guy.
And, you know, I think this event is ais a wonderful way to carry the memory on.
Can you give me an example?I'm going to put you on the spot. Sure.
Give me an example of,something that he talked to you
about in the conversation you had,
or something like thatthat sort of sticks with you mentioned
said you still think about thingshe's told you.
There's anything that you think. Yeah,I mean, the share.
(07:49):
I mean, the one of them was, you know, hehe said to me, right.
Because he, he ran the books, right?He was he was an accountant by trade.
Yeah. He said he said Hinkle.
He goes no companycan justify having a plane.
He's like, I don't care who they are,how big of a company it is.
He's like the line item expense.
He's like,you just can't justify it, you know?
(08:10):
And I always sort ofthink about that when you think about,
you know, some of these companiesand you know, whether they're, you know,
they've got some fat that you can trimand things like that.
And, you know, listen, you know,you got to move your executives around.
But I always remember him saying that.
And the other one is, is, you know,we were at Lake
Winnipesaukee,you know, probably his last summer.
(08:31):
Okay.
You know, one of his,his wish on his wish list
was to rent a big houseon Lake Winnipesaukee.
It was a place that, he had gone to for,you know, substantial
part of his childhood growing up andand with the family during the early days.
So we rented a big house there and,
and I was cooking steaks one night, and,
(08:53):
you know, Kate's brotherswere there one night, and they,
you know, I forget how I cooked it,I sliced it, I put the garlic inside,
I cooked it, and Ron was like,out of this world, off the charts, right?
And he's like, you know, he's like,
I'm not going to take creditfor telling you that.
You know, I gave you the recipe for that.
But he's like, you know, my sons,they could never do this kind of work.
(09:15):
And so it led to, this joke that we havegoing on about getting heckled.
Right?
Whereas her brothers always say,you know, just when you think
you've done something, well, you know,Angel shows up and you get heckled, right?
And he does it ten times better than youand that steak. Love it.
That steak story always sticks in my headbecause,
her brother Mark was thereand he always brings that one up.
(09:38):
So those are two storiesthat I would say stop my head.
Sounds like once you're in that circle,I mean, he's your part of the family.
There's no they're not. Yeah.
I mean, absolutely 100%.
Absolutely.That's a wonderful trait to have.
Yeah.
Someone has that, it's Hinkle,so tell me about that.
How did that do you
do you remember the story that you saidyour mom gave you that nickname?
Oh, it was my mom.
It was actually, So I went to, I went toboarding school in New Hampshire,
(10:01):
a place called Holderness.
And, you know, it's,
you know, it's
nine through 12,so a bunch of bunch of boys
sitting around a dorm, you know, you know,and it you can imagine what happens.
But, my brother was there.
He was ahe was a junior when I was a freshman.
And and he actually gotthe nickname first, and it was there.
(10:22):
I wish there was a better story, butit was like, hey, what's your last name?
Hinman.
Hinkle.
And everybody laughed, and he was Hinkle.
So when I showed up,it was big Hinkle and little Hinkle.
He graduated.
I dropped the little,so I was just Hinkle.
But then it.
I went to collegewith a couple buddies from
prep school,and they followed me and so did the name.
(10:45):
And then that'sI met my wife Kate, at, at college.
And so then she knew me as Hinklefrom the beginning.
And it's just followed me to the pointwhere
my own kids actually will call me Hinkle.
And I say to him, sometimes I'm like you,there's only two people in this world
that can call me dad, and that's you guys,and you choose to call me Hinkle
(11:06):
at the time.
So, you know, I and I think throughoutmost of my life I've,
I've always had nicknames.
I guess I'm just not a Chris. Right. So.Yeah.
Buffett.
Yeah. It works.You know, it could be worse, right?
I know that, some of the nicknameswe gave people growing up
where were much worse. So.Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then all that.
Some of them, though less, you know,they go through maybe college
(11:27):
and after that you get professionalor whatever.
Yeah.
But, so what it were they callyou can't go work.
No, not at work.
The one that that I can'tescape from work is, is chin men
because, you know, a lot of email address is right.
Is first initial right.
Chris C last name Hinman.
So it's always chicken men at whatever.
(11:48):
So then there's a bunch of derivativesthat come off of that.
But that's been onethat has been hard to catch as well.
That's a good one.Yeah. It's not that nice.
So what are you thinkthis year's event so far?
I mean, I know you just got here.
It seems like it's, it's.
I mean, they come in, there'sphotographers,
there's people getting there.What do you call them?
Those mint juleps? Yeah. Mint juleps.
Yeah, yeah.
No, I listen, I think this event,seems to up its game every year.
(12:12):
Yeah. I think that
coming
to the Polo Grounds was a big milestone,at least for all of us
legacy veterans, because, it was the point in which we sort of
went from the laborersto like, showing up as guests.
Right?
Because at that, at this point,and I'm going to get it wrong.
(12:34):
But maybe it's where ten years in, bythe time we moved here, and at that point
we had much more of a well-oiled machinewhere there was less of that last minute,
you know, run into Home
Depot or run into the nurseryor we forgot this at the house.
Right.
And, you know,we've got professional vendors and,
and so I've loved having it here.
(12:54):
And each yearthey found ways to make it better.
And I think that having the inside here
and not having to worry about the weathertakes a lot of stress off of the event.
And also the just, the setup and cleanup.
Yeah. You know, this is an event hall.
This is what they're used to doing here.
And so, people love it, right?
And it's, it's a beautiful spot.
(13:14):
It's still got the horse theme,which I think is great.
Yeah.
And, yeah, in this time of yearin Connecticut, you can't beat it.
All right. Sweaters.
I mean, a little windy, but I'll take it.
Yeah, it's warm.
But it's, you know, it's it's green.
You've got flowers, right?
I mean, it's, this is the time of year
where at least if you're from New England,you start to remember why you live here.
Because. Right, right. You know, you'reabsolutely right, Yeah, yeah.
(13:36):
Because you question it like, you know,beginning of February, mid February.
Like why?
Yeah. You're like,I can live anywhere, right?
But now you're like, okay, that is why.
Yeah. Yeah. And it's the people right?
I mean I think well I, I guess I,you know, if you're from New England,
if there's a certain type of personthat's here,
you know, and, you know,in terms of this, of add to I think that,
(13:58):
you know, the folksthat attend have have grown over time.
I think that, you know,we've been able to,
you know, attract differentgroups of people right before it was,
you know, you were 1 or 2 degreesof separation from the family.
But I think now, you know, we get, you know, we get folks that,
you know, that are, you know,may have seen the event somewhere or,
(14:19):
you know, they're a friend of a friend.
So I think we've really,you know, shown that,
you know, that we've got some scalenow when you actually don't know everybody
that's here, butand you get to meet everybody
that is here,you know, has some connection to,
pancreatic cancer and, you know, shows upand is, is happy to be here.
And, you know, I think is, you know,typically a, a great person.
(14:43):
There's not anybody that I've met herethat, you know,
I think, you know, falls outside that,that realm.
Cool. Yeah. Awesome.
And I'm going to wrap it up. I'm callyou handle your own. Wrap it up, man.
Thank you so much.
I feel like I appreciate it.
I feel like. We've gotten to that pointwhere where he could do that.
Yeah, that was good. Good stuff.Thanks so much for coming.
Enjoy the event. Have a great time. Yeah.
And, I'll be in there later.Maybe I'll bump in you. Yeah, yeah.
All right, all right. You so much.We'll see you I appreciate it. Thanks.
(15:14):
And that's it.
That's official. Now.
Now we can start.That's what that's all about.
We didn't start a. Yeah, yeah. No, no.
So, so thank you so much
for stopping by at our little table hereoutside the Ron Foley Foundation.
Ron's run for the roses.
Why don't you, go ahead.So I don't miss it.
I want to go aheadand introduce self for us.
Tell me what you.Well, I'm just going to do it.
(15:36):
That's Kate, and this is Jack.
Jack, you are Ron's cousin?That's correct.
You guys are from Philly, and you areone of Barbara's closest, dearest friends.
I hope so, yeah. Yeah.
So how did how did you always start there?
How did you all meet?How did you two meet?
How did we meet? Yes.
I was a client of hers.
Oh. Get out. Okay. Yeah,a lot of years ago.
(15:57):
Okay. Here we are today. Oh. That's cool.
It's very, very good.
Jack introduced me to his family,and we became fast
friends with Ron and Barbaraas a couple. Right.
And, the rest is kind of historyall these years later.
Oh. That's terrific.Oh, I love that. Yeah.
I just had Hinkle as just I didn't knowI asked him and he says, my name is Chris.
I said, I'm supposed to have Hinkle.
(16:17):
He says, no, that's me. I said, okay.
She's he's wonderful.
He's a great guys.We had a really fun conversation.
We're all the in-laws people.
Yeah, yeah,yeah. No. It's fun. Barbara's wonderful.
I've known her for a whileand this is such a great lady time.
Yeah.
So the one thing I don't have.
And, And Chris or Hinkle didn't,you know,
didn't know Ronall that long before I passed.
(16:39):
So I was trying to get it because I don't.
I've never met Ron.
I only met Barbara. Maybe.I don't think I.
I don't even thinkit's been ten years. Sure.
So you're Ron's cousin.
So can you tell us a little bit about
how he was you guys grow?
I don't know how much time you spenttogether.
Probably family functionsand things like that.
You can tell us about that.
Well, we had a lot of fun together.
(17:01):
Ron had a beautiful 61 Vikingthat we took up and down the coast,
but we added over it,and Bermuda, went running.
I didn't go to Bermuda.
We flew to Bermudaand then went fishing in Bermuda.
And then we had such a great timecaught up
a really large,
(17:22):
smuggling,that that was almost as big as the boat.
I know it was a he came for a while.
The thing was huge.
So let it go.
There's no way we'd get it in the boat.
Yeah, yeah,I think a boat. Yeah. That's a memory.
But you grew up with Ron literallyacross the street from each other.
Oh. Get out. Okay. Now,when there were no.
(17:43):
Yeah. Up in the bust outside Boston.
In Watertown.
Watertown? Outside of. Boston. Okay. Yeah.
Yeah. I'm not familiar with.
Yeah, it's right next to Cambridge.Okay. Okay.
Perfect. All right. Very nice.
Yeah. Okay.
But I moved out of that area,when I was young.
Basically grew up in South Jersey.
(18:03):
My businesses were in the city. Kate was.
Or public relations for personthat handled all of our.
I own McDonald's restaurants.
Oh, cool.
But so where Kate handled all the publicrelations for us in in our region.
So okay. So Rahm was a bigger than lifecharacter, though.
He had a heartthe size of the state of Connecticut
(18:24):
and was such a warm and caring personabout so many people.
And he was overly generous.
I mean, he was just that guythat just wanted everybody
to have a good time, feel good,and he wanted you to feel like
today's a good dayand I'm going to help make that happen.
And he was that personall the time. Well.
(18:45):
All I hear is, is that story.
Yeah. He's real. It was really wonderful.
And his, his favorite,saying was go big or go home.
I love it just all.
And he lived it.
He didn't live that way.
He did live in it. Yeah. And live it.
He, was particularly goodwith young people.
He loved all the young guys.
Like his is his own children, of course,but his own children's friends.
(19:07):
And watching that and the dynamic withthem was always really pretty special.
And Barbara to that togetherthey would be like
everybody'sparents in addition to their own parents.
Yeah. So there's the entertainment house.
Oh, okay. Yeah.
That's excellent.
Yeah. A lot of fun all the time. Right.
And yeah, we had a ball bringing joyto other people and and.
(19:28):
The second. Home that people. Okay.
Well yeah.
So were you atI'm assuming you were at the first.
We were, event at Barbara's in Barbara'sbackyard.
The first event in her backyard.
And she just had this idea,and she said, I'm going to start this.
And then she gathered a bunch of friendsand neighbors,
and, they all just volunteered.
(19:50):
And together, they workedsuper hard to help her figure this out.
And they've watched itgrow. And evolve over all the years.
It's been already spectacular,the amount of development that's happened.
And now that they're this thrivingnonprofit.
It's it's incredible.We've never missed one.
Yeah.
Did she start it with the notioninvolved of of it create a nonprofit
(20:12):
or she just want to have an eventfor Ron's memory?
Sort of. What was the,
It wasto raise money for pancreatic cancer.
It was okay for sure. Yeah. For sure.
And it just started as an eventto raise money and exact.
So the so the event started firstand then the Ron Foley Foundation
sort of followed.
Is that exactly okay?
Yeah,I think that originally I'm not sure,
but I think the original ideawas to raise money for research.
(20:34):
And then as it started to come togethervery quickly,
they started to understandwhat families really needed
because they had been through itthemselves.
And so there's sort of
the two pieces of this,the part that is really for research.
And then there's the the funds
that they, distribute to familiesin need to do Von's Rescue.
And I think bothboth are really important.
(20:54):
And I think the fact that they're balancedin their own visual and understanding
of how pancreatic cancer really hitsfamilies, is really important.
And, I'm pretty proud of the factthat they were able to think about that.
And,
really focus on individual needs.
So many organizationsreally and focus on research.
(21:17):
And this part I thinkis really an important piece of it, too.
So amazing.
The growth so did they did was the
was thethe funds that was initially raised,
was that for researchor was that for to give to families.
Do you remember I.
Think I'm not I'm actually not sure.
But I think it was originallyfor research. Right.
And because there was alreadyan established pancreatic,
(21:41):
cancer foundationor group, several of them.
And I think Barbarathen started to get in touch
with the hospitalsand started working with doctors.
The outreach in the communicationthat she's had with really world renown
specialists has been pretty extraordinary.
So sheshe has learned so much about the disease
by how it impacts families,that she just keeps
(22:02):
building the foundation to be supportiveof where the greatest needs are.
Yeah, yeah, because youthink about research, which is important.
But I think that the familieshave needs, right.
Whether
whatever those needs are mostly financial,whether it be just living expenses
or maybe medical expenses,is there a separate fund
for medical or living, or is it justhow do people go about requesting it?
(22:23):
How does that all work?
I think there's an application.
I think they can turn it really fastwithin a week or two weeks.
Oh, well.
And, they just need to have some information
from the patient's doctorand they file it.
And then as soon as they review itand they know that it's all,
you know, in good order of the paperwork,they get a check off to them
(22:45):
and it just adds
sometimes it's for a special last wishor a trip with a family member.
Oh, well, sometimes it's for immediateneeds at the home to help carry expenses.
So it just depends onthe individual person and what they need.
Do you know how much that kind of moneythe the foundation has distributed?
(23:06):
I asked for their number.Okay. Just wanted to.
I should have looked at. My, Yeah, yeah.So look at your notes.
Yeah.I didn't make any. No, no, that's fine.
That's all right.
I think that's really important.
Yeah.
I, I put together a couple of videos
for this event, and some of the people onthere were just so grateful that,
you know,they have this disease and they need it.
And they reached out and, and, Ron, forthe foundation was able to help them out
(23:28):
financially, get through some tough times.
And that's that's amazing. Yeah.
I think that's really, really goodI love it.
How's the event so far?And I just got here.
But how is the house as shaping upto be one of the best ones yet?
I bet it it's always great.
It is. I've never been the bad one.
Yeah, I actually I like this facilitymuch better, than than it was before.
Which was also still a good facility.
(23:50):
But this one just plays easy.
Yeah. It's easy to move around here. Yeah.
Even with the wind blowing.
With the wind blown blow. Windy.
But then you got. Yeah.
Because you had this here outsidenow in studio.
Yeah. We basically. Yeah. Boats.
Yeah. That's wonderful.
That's really, really good.
The volunteer groupthat keeps putting this together
every year there's a very small paid staffby the volunteer group
(24:13):
that helps make all this come togetheris pretty exceptional.
And the fact that so many of these peoplethen with this in the very beginning,
the surprise and to see that longevity,
commitment from the volunteersis pretty special, I think.
So that just is a tribute,I think, to what this has become
and also to Barbara and her leadership.Yeah.
So yeah, and she's genuinelythankful and appreciative
(24:36):
and just humbled by everyI just it's really she's.
An amazing. Lady. Yeah.She really, really is.
Yeah.
And I wish I knew Ronbecause every time I hear
people talk about he's extraordinary.Yeah. Yeah.
The buddy.
Yeah.
No, I sounds like it, likeit was so awesome.
Is there anything elseyou'd like to chat to me about?
Anything you think people should know?Whether what you know
(24:56):
about pancreatic canceror how people can can help, people.
That might be a need.
They need social support organizationslike this one, for sure.
Yeah. Just being here today.Yeah, it's a big help.
And participating and putting,
bids in on various items to raise money.
This is all the right thing to do.
Perfect. Well, guys.
(25:17):
Jack, Kate,thank you so much for stopping by.
I really appreciate all you do.
Yeah. Pleasure meeting you.Enjoy the rest.
And, maybe you put some money infor the silent auction, which is what
you put your money in for the silentauction over there yet or not?
Not yet. We will. Though.
You got your eye on anything yet?Or do you get, you know. Okay.
I'm not a silent auction person. Okay?
So the the big money is raisedlater in the.
(25:38):
Budget rate.
Radio eventand will certainly participate. Mac.
Sounds good to me. So.
All right,guys, we'll see you. Thanks so much.
But yeah.
So this weather I it's funny, I got hereand it was like that was beautiful.
And then just, 15 minutes ago,I was like.
I was like, yeah, you know what? No,I don't see. It's like a get cloudy.
(26:00):
It's gonna be fine. I. You know,I mean, oh, you know what?
What's up?
Yeah.
The line line's coming in, so it'skind of it's going to pour lightning,
some wind,a little worry about the items out there.
You know we're talking.Yeah. Getting ready.
You know. But how are you doing?
I'm doing great. Good. Doing really. Good.Good good good. Good.
I'm sorry. Yeah, it's all good.
Just, you know, just,you know, every time you turn around,
there's something else going
(26:20):
on, and, and, you know,you probably know about my family member.
What we lost, you know.
Yeah,we had my wife's cousin, 46 years old.
She, had pancreatitis.
And it was the summerabout five years ago,
and she was going through the summer,and my wife's like, you know what?
Something's not right.
(26:41):
And so they went back and pancreaticcancer in less than a year, she was gone.
And we just had the wedding for her,her daughter just, just last month,
down in Florida.
And so,
this is probably going backabout 4 or 5 months ago.
I met my best friend. We grew up together.
I was his best man on his wedding41 years ago.
(27:02):
Right now, he's a doctor.
He's a chief operating officerfor Nuance Medical here in Connecticut.
They are, he has pancreatic cancer.
Oh, my gosh.
So he's been through radiation and chemoor chemo and radiation.
Now he's going to have an operation.
But, you know, he's, Iron man, you know?
Great.
Jane, they found a littlesomething on his pancreas,
and then all of a sudden, in three months,it was huge.
(27:25):
And so pancreatic cancer is just.
It's unbelievable.
And, you know,things happen where, you know,
you get little ideas that somethingmight be, but you never think much of it.
And then by the time you find it, it's,it's a problem. Yeah.
So hopefully he found his in time.
But I just feel like many more peopleare getting pancreatic cancer these days,
and we keep fighting.
But it's, We gotta we gotta do more.
(27:47):
Yeah, I do more.
My, my wife, stepmom last year
texted me, in March.
She said,I want you to hear from me first.
I have pancreatic cancer. Stage three,I think.
And I think, yeah,I think it was two months later.
Two months.
That's it.
I think how old? Mid 70s, I think.
Okay. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
So yeah, I mean, yoga teacherorganic food I mean healthy.
(28:09):
Yeah. No, it's low stress.
Unbelievable.
I mean, one of the healthiest peopleI knew. Yeah. You know. Yeah.
Just a wonderful woman. Yeah.
You know, my friend being a doctor, he's
trying to explain to me about mutationsand how things can happen and whatnot.
And it's like, okay, you know, it's just,
I don't know, it's,
scary, scary stuff,but you doing something like this
Ron Foley Foundation, you know, just,you know, taking what happened to Barbara
(28:33):
and making it into thisunbelievable event, raises money and.
Yeah, you know, finding out what the whatthe researchers are doing and hopefully,
you know, we're going to be ableto do something about this.
Yeah. And I was talking to Jack and Kate.
And not only is it
raising money for research, it's raisingmoney to help families that are suffering.
And that's huge.
When we,
(28:55):
Debbie Lafon, my wife's cousin,
she was the first recipientof Ron's rescue.
And so, when that first came out,
my wife Tracy,who works at channel three.
I know Tracy.
You know Tracy. Yeah, exactly.Yeah. How are you doing?
You know. Great. Good, good, good. Oh.
So, you know, all of us in this business,we all know each other.
(29:18):
And she, she had gotten to know Barbara,somehow, probably through, you know,
probably had her in on the showor something, but anyhow, they
supplied, Debbie and her
two daughters, the ability to go to Disney World, and,
you know, they were there,and I didn't want to say
(29:40):
it was maybe May,and she was gone in October.
Wow. So.
Yeah, but they got to have thatone last special love thing.
So, so helping the family, it's importantbecause, you know,
it happens to a person, but it's thewhat it does to the whole family.
Just. Yeah. It affects the whole family.Yeah. Yeah I used way. Yeah.
Oh absolutely.
Oh was it.How many years we've been doing this.
And we got to wrapbecause I just heard some thunder.
Yeah I gotta we gotta get out of here.I've been doing this now.
(30:03):
I probably a solid ten years.
Maybe. Maybe has been that long.
Yeah,yeah. So, it along your own. Barbara.
Known Barbara for probably
going on and, eight,
eight, nine, ten years.
Yeah.
So. So, okay,so about a while, so right on.
So quite wonderful.
Yeah.
One of the organization, and, we just,
(30:23):
you know, have to get, you know, we gottawe gotta, gotta get rid of this stuff.
Yeah. And she keeps coming.
She just every year,she keeps chugging along.
Oh, you know, every dayshe's, you know, she's working.
But what you can do to to make people'slives a little bit better.
And it's better for all the great peoplethat come to an event like this
and, you know, moneythat is raised through other organizations
and the big walks,those at the Pan can walk out into Rhode
(30:45):
Island last weekend, you know, we, we we can't stop.
So is she. Involved with other,organizers?
I'm sure she is a she.
I know she's involvedwith another nonprofit out of Hartford,
but they're they dothey don't do cancer stuff.
But is you involved with other, cancerresearch?
Pancreatic cancer research.
Nonprofit groups is ashe goes, I say, yeah, well,
I mean, as far as the, you know,the different doctors and so forth. And.
(31:08):
Yeah, she okay. Yes. She is.
Yeah. So, just,
we're,you know, we're continuing to fight.
You just don't know from day to day.That's the whole thing.
When I see my friend,
one day find the next day she's got this,you just don't know.
So you just don't know. Oh.
So is there anything you can tell usthat's going to be exciting?
Maybe different,that you're doing for the first time
this yearthat you haven't done in past years.
Anything like.
(31:28):
Well, you got it.
We got $100 raffle ticket, for a,
a bottle of bourbon,that's worth like, $1,000.
We got a great necklacefor $2,200 from Monarch Jewelers.
We got some wonderful live auction items,which is always great.
And, and then, speakers,you know, hearing the stories.
Yeah.
Compelling storiesabout what people have been through
(31:49):
and then hearing from the doctors about,
you know, what's happening and,and what what we're doing to love it.
Get rid of the stress.
Of this awful thing.
It affects everybody.
It's just about anybody you talk to. Yeah.
So somewhere as a related. Yeah.
With but you know now just for meit just keeps hitting too much you know.
So I needwe need to fight. Perfect. Keep fighting.
Yeah you fight Joe.
(32:10):
You get back to work. We're goingto. We're going to thank you.
All right. Great pleasure.See you. Good. You're great.
You're awesome. Thanks so much.All right, now let's pack up.
Get out of here with that. Joe,we had to go.
All right, get under the table.
We'll see. Joe on.
That's good. So that's good. You'reyou're resilient.
(00:02):
I'm resilient. We're resilient. Right.
So yeah,you learned a valuable lesson then.
And then my neighborin the following year, he's up on a tree.
He's like 20ft highand he's with a sore channel remember.
And I told him my storyand he looked at me like.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Not going to happen to me.
Yeah. Okay.
Yeah. And didn't thank God.
But hopefully did a meal trainfor him. Right.
(00:22):
And yeah, yeah.
Dropped off that lasagna and said yeah.
Remember what I told you, right?
Yeah. No, it was, you had that hurt.
Oh. Got it hurt.
Yeah.
No, I mean, I think going up on laddersis not something I,
you know, cleaning my own gutters,those type of thing is sort of
like the risk reward on
it has gotten to the point where I'm like,you know what, I want to outsource.
I do my own landscaping.
(00:43):
I do a lot of things around the house.
I don't outsource everything, butthey're allowed getting up on a ladder.
I've got a got a high roof.
I came home for the hospital.
Both apple trees were gone.
My wife had someone come in and calm down.
He's like, you know what, I'm goingto make sure this doesn't happen again.
Yeah, yeah.
Well, so yeah. So anyway, so,
they call you Hinkle?
(01:03):
They do? Yeah. Yeah. So what?
Tell me a little about yourself.
How are you involved in the, RonFoley Foundation?
Run for the roses? Yeah.
So I've actually,I've been part of it since the beginning.
So, I'm actually married to Kate.
Kate is Barbara's daughter.
Only daughter?
We got married in 2007,so the first Ron's run was 2005.
(01:26):
I believe, if my memory serves me correct.
And the first, Ron's Ron, was, KentuckyDerby event in Barbara's backyard.
You know, it was small.
A lot of family, you know, few friends.
And, you know, it's grown.
It's obviously considerably since then.
Yeah, we've been through several venues,up until now, but it's been
(01:47):
it's been a very rewarding,
activity to be part of.
Right. And not becauseI've been a huge driver. Right?
I mean, Barbara has been thethe beating heart of this organization
since the beginning, but it's been funto play a variety of roles over the years.
Mostly labor, you know, I,you know, a lot of carrying things.
(02:08):
Hauling things, you know,running out in the truck last minute,
you know, building things at night, doingPowerPoints, whatever,
whatever the job called for.
You know, we all rallied around Barbarato, to help grow this,
you know, Ron was an important personin all of our lives.
And, you know, that's always,
you know, that's always kind of beenthe focus, right?
(02:30):
Is is, you know, his memoryand then translating his memory into how
we can help others that have, you know,gone through similar circumstances.
So, you know, it's been a fun journeythus far.
Yeah. Barb's a sweetheart.
I've known her for a little while,and it's amazing to see this event.
Yeah. How it's grown.
Yeah.
Now, I wasn't I didn't know herwhen it was in her backyard, but,
(02:52):
there's another place up the roadwhere it was, and.
And they came here,and this is just. Absolutely. Yeah.
I've seen Simsbury volley Farm.
Yeah. That's right.Yeah, yeah. Or Folly Farm.
Folly farm.
Yeah. Yeah.
So you knew, Ron, I did okay. Yeah.
So I actually had the privilege
of knowing Ronfor trying to think exact dates here.
But probably 2 or 3 years, prior to diagnosis.
(03:15):
So then ultimately,you know, his passing away in 2005, and,
you know, given that, you know, history
transpired the way that it did, and Kateand I got married and I became part
of the family, having that connectionhas been incredible, right?
Because, you know, he still is,is a beacon and a lot of great memories
(03:35):
that, you know, that we,we still share together.
And so knowing him and having
that personal relationshipis, has been meaningful for me.
And what what a tribute.
I mean, Barb does not just every year,that this time, but all year,
all year out.
I it's not only helping other peoplethat are,
you know,and it's not just pancreatic cancer too.
I think it's just awareness of cancer,period.
(03:57):
Absolutely. And everybody's suffering.And and she does that all year round.
And she's,I mean, you wouldn't even think that she
runs an organization like this.
She's just you would never. But she's.Because she's amazing.
Yeah.
And she's alwaysshe's always thinking about it.
Always noodling.
No matter where she is,she'll see something, whether it's,
you know, you know,whether it's, you know, decor, right?
(04:17):
For the setting or maybe it's, you know, an auction item.
She's always she's always noodle,and it's always top of mind.
You know, in a lot of ways, it'ssort of become part of who she is
and her identity.And I think that's that's really cool.
What was what was Ron like?
I don't know too much. I've never met him.
I've heard a couple of stories hereand there, but I don't really know.
(04:38):
How did you know?What's your memory. Of. Yeah.
So my my memory of Ron, you know, bigyou know, he is very quiet guy.
But if you were in his innercircle, right.
He was he was big personality.
You know, he's very devotedto his family, you know, love to fish.
Love to have a good time.
(04:59):
Love to joke around.
You know, he was, you know, he washe was a driving force in a lot of the,
the social events in, in their family and,you know, very successful
businessman as well.
And so,
you know, there was definitely, you know,part of our relationship, which was,
you know, me asking questions.
(05:19):
I was starting my career. Right.
And I think at that at the timewhen he and I first met,
I actually didn't have a job right hereI am dating his daughter.
No job that went over well, and.Yeah, exactly.
But, you know, I was grinding it out
and, he, he had said to me,
you know, he,
he gave me some ultimatum of, hey,if you don't have a job in 90 days, right,
(05:42):
this, this relationshipand I can go any further.
He always like to say that I pulled it outon, you know, whatever
it was, the,you know, the 49th day, right in 50 was.
That was the mark. So, but he,
like I said,
I, I still recite things that he told meabout about business.
And, you know, he was,
(06:02):
he was differentbecause he was, from a different era
where they, you know, he showed upat travelers at a college and,
you know, started, you know, the mailroomor wherever in a while
worked his way upto to CFO, of the company, and,
you know, took the company through,you know, some, some big acquisitions,
(06:22):
and ultimately was at the helm when,they became part of Citigroup.
So he had, you know, some pretty,
pretty interesting stories,you know, with some of the,
the big moguls of that day,you know, Sandy, while and Jamie Diamond
and these names that, you know,anybody would know, but very humble.
Never forgot his roots where he came from,which was Whalen, Massachusetts.
(06:46):
And, yeah, just a sweetheart of a guy.
So he was still working when, you know,where was your title?
He was retired.
He was retired.
But, you know, given that I was trying to
trying to kind of chartmy path and my career, you know,
it was something that I was constantlytrying to kind of pepper people with.
Hey, what about this?
What do you think about this companyand those types of things?
(07:07):
And, you know,he was impressed with my first job
was at Lehman Brothers,which was, an investment bank.
And, you know, he washe thought that was pretty cool.
But, you know,the one thing that he didn't see in
his lifetime was that the companyactually went bankrupt in 2008.
Yeah. And I remember that.
During the financial crisis.
So, yeah.
(07:28):
No, he was, he was a great guy.
And, you know, I think this event is ais a wonderful way to carry the memory on.
Can you give me an example?I'm going to put you on the spot. Sure.
Give me an example of,something that he talked to you
about in the conversation you had,
or something like thatthat sort of sticks with you mentioned
said you still think about thingshe's told you.
There's anything that you think. Yeah,I mean, the share.
(07:49):
I mean, the one of them was, you know, hehe said to me, right.
Because he, he ran the books, right?He was he was an accountant by trade.
Yeah. He said he said Hinkle.
He goes no companycan justify having a plane.
He's like, I don't care who they are,how big of a company it is.
He's like the line item expense.
He's like,you just can't justify it, you know?
(08:10):
And I always sort ofthink about that when you think about,
you know, some of these companiesand you know, whether they're, you know,
they've got some fat that you can trimand things like that.
And, you know, listen, you know,you got to move your executives around.
But I always remember him saying that.
And the other one is, is, you know,we were at Lake
Winnipesaukee,you know, probably his last summer.
(08:31):
Okay.
You know, one of his,his wish on his wish list
was to rent a big houseon Lake Winnipesaukee.
It was a place that, he had gone to for,you know, substantial
part of his childhood growing up andand with the family during the early days.
So we rented a big house there and,
and I was cooking steaks one night, and,
(08:53):
you know, Kate's brotherswere there one night, and they,
you know, I forget how I cooked it,I sliced it, I put the garlic inside,
I cooked it, and Ron was like,out of this world, off the charts, right?
And he's like, you know, he's like,
I'm not going to take creditfor telling you that.
You know, I gave you the recipe for that.
But he's like, you know, my sons,they could never do this kind of work.
(09:15):
And so it led to, this joke that we havegoing on about getting heckled.
Right?
Whereas her brothers always say,you know, just when you think
you've done something, well, you know,Angel shows up and you get heckled, right?
And he does it ten times better than youand that steak. Love it.
That steak story always sticks in my headbecause,
her brother Mark was thereand he always brings that one up.
(09:38):
So those are two storiesthat I would say stop my head.
Sounds like once you're in that circle,I mean, he's your part of the family.
There's no they're not. Yeah.
I mean, absolutely 100%.
Absolutely.That's a wonderful trait to have.
Yeah.
Someone has that, it's Hinkle,so tell me about that.
How did that do you
do you remember the story that you saidyour mom gave you that nickname?
Oh, it was my mom.
It was actually, So I went to, I went toboarding school in New Hampshire,
(10:01):
a place called Holderness.
And, you know, it's,
you know, it's
nine through 12,so a bunch of bunch of boys
sitting around a dorm, you know, you know,and it you can imagine what happens.
But, my brother was there.
He was ahe was a junior when I was a freshman.
And and he actually gotthe nickname first, and it was there.
(10:22):
I wish there was a better story, butit was like, hey, what's your last name?
Hinman.
Hinkle.
And everybody laughed, and he was Hinkle.
So when I showed up,it was big Hinkle and little Hinkle.
He graduated.
I dropped the little,so I was just Hinkle.
But then it.
I went to collegewith a couple buddies from
prep school,and they followed me and so did the name.
(10:45):
And then that'sI met my wife Kate, at, at college.
And so then she knew me as Hinklefrom the beginning.
And it's just followed me to the pointwhere
my own kids actually will call me Hinkle.
And I say to him, sometimes I'm like you,there's only two people in this world
that can call me dad, and that's you guys,and you choose to call me Hinkle
(11:06):
at the time.
So, you know, I and I think throughoutmost of my life I've,
I've always had nicknames.
I guess I'm just not a Chris. Right. So.Yeah.
Buffett.
Yeah. It works.You know, it could be worse, right?
I know that, some of the nicknameswe gave people growing up
where were much worse. So.Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then all that.
Some of them, though less, you know,they go through maybe college
(11:27):
and after that you get professionalor whatever.
Yeah.
But, so what it were they callyou can't go work.
No, not at work.
The one that that I can'tescape from work is, is chin men
because, you know, a lot of email address is right.
Is first initial right.
Chris C last name Hinman.
So it's always chicken men at whatever.
(11:48):
So then there's a bunch of derivativesthat come off of that.
But that's been onethat has been hard to catch as well.
That's a good one.Yeah. It's not that nice.
So what are you thinkthis year's event so far?
I mean, I know you just got here.
It seems like it's, it's.
I mean, they come in, there'sphotographers,
there's people getting there.What do you call them?
Those mint juleps? Yeah. Mint juleps.
Yeah, yeah.
No, I listen, I think this event,seems to up its game every year.
(12:12):
Yeah. I think that
coming
to the Polo Grounds was a big milestone,at least for all of us
legacy veterans, because, it was the point in which we sort of
went from the laborersto like, showing up as guests.
Right?
Because at that, at this point,and I'm going to get it wrong.
(12:34):
But maybe it's where ten years in, bythe time we moved here, and at that point
we had much more of a well-oiled machinewhere there was less of that last minute,
you know, run into Home
Depot or run into the nurseryor we forgot this at the house.
Right.
And, you know,we've got professional vendors and,
and so I've loved having it here.
(12:54):
And each yearthey found ways to make it better.
And I think that having the inside here
and not having to worry about the weathertakes a lot of stress off of the event.
And also the just, the setup and cleanup.
Yeah. You know, this is an event hall.
This is what they're used to doing here.
And so, people love it, right?
And it's, it's a beautiful spot.
(13:14):
It's still got the horse theme,which I think is great.
Yeah.
And, yeah, in this time of yearin Connecticut, you can't beat it.
All right. Sweaters.
I mean, a little windy, but I'll take it.
Yeah, it's warm.
But it's, you know, it's it's green.
You've got flowers, right?
I mean, it's, this is the time of year
where at least if you're from New England,you start to remember why you live here.
Because. Right, right. You know, you'reabsolutely right, Yeah, yeah.
(13:36):
Because you question it like, you know,beginning of February, mid February.
Like why?
Yeah. You're like,I can live anywhere, right?
But now you're like, okay, that is why.
Yeah. Yeah. And it's the people right?
I mean I think well I, I guess I,you know, if you're from New England,
if there's a certain type of personthat's here,
you know, and, you know,in terms of this, of add to I think that,
(13:58):
you know, the folksthat attend have have grown over time.
I think that, you know,we've been able to,
you know, attract differentgroups of people right before it was,
you know, you were 1 or 2 degreesof separation from the family.
But I think now, you know, we get, you know, we get folks that,
you know, that are, you know,may have seen the event somewhere or,
(14:19):
you know, they're a friend of a friend.
So I think we've really,you know, shown that,
you know, that we've got some scalenow when you actually don't know everybody
that's here, butand you get to meet everybody
that is here,you know, has some connection to,
pancreatic cancer and, you know, shows upand is, is happy to be here.
And, you know, I think is, you know,typically a, a great person.
(14:43):
There's not anybody that I've met herethat, you know,
I think, you know, falls outside that,that realm.
Cool. Yeah. Awesome.
And I'm going to wrap it up. I'm callyou handle your own. Wrap it up, man.
Thank you so much.
I feel like I appreciate it.
I feel like. We've gotten to that pointwhere where he could do that.
Yeah, that was good. Good stuff.Thanks so much for coming.
Enjoy the event. Have a great time. Yeah.
And, I'll be in there later.Maybe I'll bump in you. Yeah, yeah.
All right, all right. You so much.We'll see you I appreciate it. Thanks.
(15:14):
And that's it.
That's official. Now.
Now we can start.That's what that's all about.
We didn't start a. Yeah, yeah. No, no.
So, so thank you so much
for stopping by at our little table hereoutside the Ron Foley Foundation.
Ron's run for the roses.
Why don't you, go ahead.So I don't miss it.
I want to go aheadand introduce self for us.
Tell me what you.Well, I'm just going to do it.
(15:36):
That's Kate, and this is Jack.
Jack, you are Ron's cousin?That's correct.
You guys are from Philly, and you areone of Barbara's closest, dearest friends.
I hope so, yeah. Yeah.
So how did how did you always start there?
How did you all meet?How did you two meet?
How did we meet? Yes.
I was a client of hers.
Oh. Get out. Okay. Yeah,a lot of years ago.
(15:57):
Okay. Here we are today. Oh. That's cool.
It's very, very good.
Jack introduced me to his family,and we became fast
friends with Ron and Barbaraas a couple. Right.
And, the rest is kind of historyall these years later.
Oh. That's terrific.Oh, I love that. Yeah.
I just had Hinkle as just I didn't knowI asked him and he says, my name is Chris.
I said, I'm supposed to have Hinkle.
(16:17):
He says, no, that's me. I said, okay.
She's he's wonderful.
He's a great guys.We had a really fun conversation.
We're all the in-laws people.
Yeah, yeah,yeah. No. It's fun. Barbara's wonderful.
I've known her for a whileand this is such a great lady time.
Yeah.
So the one thing I don't have.
And, And Chris or Hinkle didn't,you know,
didn't know Ronall that long before I passed.
(16:39):
So I was trying to get it because I don't.
I've never met Ron.
I only met Barbara. Maybe.I don't think I.
I don't even thinkit's been ten years. Sure.
So you're Ron's cousin.
So can you tell us a little bit about
how he was you guys grow?
I don't know how much time you spenttogether.
Probably family functionsand things like that.
You can tell us about that.
Well, we had a lot of fun together.
(17:01):
Ron had a beautiful 61 Vikingthat we took up and down the coast,
but we added over it,and Bermuda, went running.
I didn't go to Bermuda.
We flew to Bermudaand then went fishing in Bermuda.
And then we had such a great timecaught up
a really large,
(17:22):
smuggling,that that was almost as big as the boat.
I know it was a he came for a while.
The thing was huge.
So let it go.
There's no way we'd get it in the boat.
Yeah, yeah,I think a boat. Yeah. That's a memory.
But you grew up with Ron literallyacross the street from each other.
Oh. Get out. Okay. Now,when there were no.
(17:43):
Yeah. Up in the bust outside Boston.
In Watertown.
Watertown? Outside of. Boston. Okay. Yeah.
Yeah. I'm not familiar with.
Yeah, it's right next to Cambridge.Okay. Okay.
Perfect. All right. Very nice.
Yeah. Okay.
But I moved out of that area,when I was young.
Basically grew up in South Jersey.
(18:03):
My businesses were in the city. Kate was.
Or public relations for personthat handled all of our.
I own McDonald's restaurants.
Oh, cool.
But so where Kate handled all the publicrelations for us in in our region.
So okay. So Rahm was a bigger than lifecharacter, though.
He had a heartthe size of the state of Connecticut
(18:24):
and was such a warm and caring personabout so many people.
And he was overly generous.
I mean, he was just that guythat just wanted everybody
to have a good time, feel good,and he wanted you to feel like
today's a good dayand I'm going to help make that happen.
And he was that personall the time. Well.
(18:45):
All I hear is, is that story.
Yeah. He's real. It was really wonderful.
And his, his favorite,saying was go big or go home.
I love it just all.
And he lived it.
He didn't live that way.
He did live in it. Yeah. And live it.
He, was particularly goodwith young people.
He loved all the young guys.
Like his is his own children, of course,but his own children's friends.
(19:07):
And watching that and the dynamic withthem was always really pretty special.
And Barbara to that togetherthey would be like
everybody'sparents in addition to their own parents.
Yeah. So there's the entertainment house.
Oh, okay. Yeah.
That's excellent.
Yeah. A lot of fun all the time. Right.
And yeah, we had a ball bringing joyto other people and and.
(19:28):
The second. Home that people. Okay.
Well yeah.
So were you atI'm assuming you were at the first.
We were, event at Barbara's in Barbara'sbackyard.
The first event in her backyard.
And she just had this idea,and she said, I'm going to start this.
And then she gathered a bunch of friendsand neighbors,
and, they all just volunteered.
(19:50):
And together, they workedsuper hard to help her figure this out.
And they've watched itgrow. And evolve over all the years.
It's been already spectacular,the amount of development that's happened.
And now that they're this thrivingnonprofit.
It's it's incredible.We've never missed one.
Yeah.
Did she start it with the notioninvolved of of it create a nonprofit
(20:12):
or she just want to have an eventfor Ron's memory?
Sort of. What was the,
It wasto raise money for pancreatic cancer.
It was okay for sure. Yeah. For sure.
And it just started as an eventto raise money and exact.
So the so the event started firstand then the Ron Foley Foundation
sort of followed.
Is that exactly okay?
Yeah,I think that originally I'm not sure,
but I think the original ideawas to raise money for research.
(20:34):
And then as it started to come togethervery quickly,
they started to understandwhat families really needed
because they had been through itthemselves.
And so there's sort of
the two pieces of this,the part that is really for research.
And then there's the the funds
that they, distribute to familiesin need to do Von's Rescue.
And I think bothboth are really important.
(20:54):
And I think the fact that they're balancedin their own visual and understanding
of how pancreatic cancer really hitsfamilies, is really important.
And, I'm pretty proud of the factthat they were able to think about that.
And,
really focus on individual needs.
So many organizationsreally and focus on research.
(21:17):
And this part I thinkis really an important piece of it, too.
So amazing.
The growth so did they did was the
was thethe funds that was initially raised,
was that for researchor was that for to give to families.
Do you remember I.
Think I'm not I'm actually not sure.
But I think it was originallyfor research. Right.
And because there was alreadyan established pancreatic,
(21:41):
cancer foundationor group, several of them.
And I think Barbarathen started to get in touch
with the hospitalsand started working with doctors.
The outreach in the communicationthat she's had with really world renown
specialists has been pretty extraordinary.
So sheshe has learned so much about the disease
by how it impacts families,that she just keeps
(22:02):
building the foundation to be supportiveof where the greatest needs are.
Yeah, yeah, because youthink about research, which is important.
But I think that the familieshave needs, right.
Whether
whatever those needs are mostly financial,whether it be just living expenses
or maybe medical expenses,is there a separate fund
for medical or living, or is it justhow do people go about requesting it?
(22:23):
How does that all work?
I think there's an application.
I think they can turn it really fastwithin a week or two weeks.
Oh, well.
And, they just need to have some information
from the patient's doctorand they file it.
And then as soon as they review itand they know that it's all,
you know, in good order of the paperwork,they get a check off to them
(22:45):
and it just adds
sometimes it's for a special last wishor a trip with a family member.
Oh, well, sometimes it's for immediateneeds at the home to help carry expenses.
So it just depends onthe individual person and what they need.
Do you know how much that kind of moneythe the foundation has distributed?
(23:06):
I asked for their number.Okay. Just wanted to.
I should have looked at. My, Yeah, yeah.So look at your notes.
Yeah.I didn't make any. No, no, that's fine.
That's all right.
I think that's really important.
Yeah.
I, I put together a couple of videos
for this event, and some of the people onthere were just so grateful that,
you know,they have this disease and they need it.
And they reached out and, and, Ron, forthe foundation was able to help them out
(23:28):
financially, get through some tough times.
And that's that's amazing. Yeah.
I think that's really, really goodI love it.
How's the event so far?And I just got here.
But how is the house as shaping upto be one of the best ones yet?
I bet it it's always great.
It is. I've never been the bad one.
Yeah, I actually I like this facilitymuch better, than than it was before.
Which was also still a good facility.
(23:50):
But this one just plays easy.
Yeah. It's easy to move around here. Yeah.
Even with the wind blowing.
With the wind blown blow. Windy.
But then you got. Yeah.
Because you had this here outsidenow in studio.
Yeah. We basically. Yeah. Boats.
Yeah. That's wonderful.
That's really, really good.
The volunteer groupthat keeps putting this together
every year there's a very small paid staffby the volunteer group
(24:13):
that helps make all this come togetheris pretty exceptional.
And the fact that so many of these peoplethen with this in the very beginning,
the surprise and to see that longevity,
commitment from the volunteersis pretty special, I think.
So that just is a tribute,I think, to what this has become
and also to Barbara and her leadership.Yeah.
So yeah, and she's genuinelythankful and appreciative
(24:36):
and just humbled by everyI just it's really she's.
An amazing. Lady. Yeah.She really, really is.
Yeah.
And I wish I knew Ronbecause every time I hear
people talk about he's extraordinary.Yeah. Yeah.
The buddy.
Yeah.
No, I sounds like it, likeit was so awesome.
Is there anything elseyou'd like to chat to me about?
Anything you think people should know?Whether what you know
(24:56):
about pancreatic canceror how people can can help, people.
That might be a need.
They need social support organizationslike this one, for sure.
Yeah. Just being here today.Yeah, it's a big help.
And participating and putting,
bids in on various items to raise money.
This is all the right thing to do.
Perfect. Well, guys.
(25:17):
Jack, Kate,thank you so much for stopping by.
I really appreciate all you do.
Yeah. Pleasure meeting you.Enjoy the rest.
And, maybe you put some money infor the silent auction, which is what
you put your money in for the silentauction over there yet or not?
Not yet. We will. Though.
You got your eye on anything yet?Or do you get, you know. Okay.
I'm not a silent auction person. Okay?
So the the big money is raisedlater in the.
(25:38):
Budget rate.
Radio eventand will certainly participate. Mac.
Sounds good to me. So.
All right,guys, we'll see you. Thanks so much.
But yeah.
So this weather I it's funny, I got hereand it was like that was beautiful.
And then just, 15 minutes ago,I was like.
I was like, yeah, you know what? No,I don't see. It's like a get cloudy.
(26:00):
It's gonna be fine. I. You know,I mean, oh, you know what?
What's up?
Yeah.
The line line's coming in, so it'skind of it's going to pour lightning,
some wind,a little worry about the items out there.
You know we're talking.Yeah. Getting ready.
You know. But how are you doing?
I'm doing great. Good. Doing really. Good.Good good good. Good.
I'm sorry. Yeah, it's all good.
Just, you know, just,you know, every time you turn around,
there's something else going
(26:20):
on, and, and, you know,you probably know about my family member.
What we lost, you know.
Yeah,we had my wife's cousin, 46 years old.
She, had pancreatitis.
And it was the summerabout five years ago,
and she was going through the summer,and my wife's like, you know what?
Something's not right.
(26:41):
And so they went back and pancreaticcancer in less than a year, she was gone.
And we just had the wedding for her,her daughter just, just last month,
down in Florida.
And so,
this is probably going backabout 4 or 5 months ago.
I met my best friend. We grew up together.
I was his best man on his wedding41 years ago.
(27:02):
Right now, he's a doctor.
He's a chief operating officerfor Nuance Medical here in Connecticut.
They are, he has pancreatic cancer.
Oh, my gosh.
So he's been through radiation and chemoor chemo and radiation.
Now he's going to have an operation.
But, you know, he's, Iron man, you know?
Great.
Jane, they found a littlesomething on his pancreas,
and then all of a sudden, in three months,it was huge.
(27:25):
And so pancreatic cancer is just.
It's unbelievable.
And, you know,things happen where, you know,
you get little ideas that somethingmight be, but you never think much of it.
And then by the time you find it, it's,it's a problem. Yeah.
So hopefully he found his in time.
But I just feel like many more peopleare getting pancreatic cancer these days,
and we keep fighting.
But it's, We gotta we gotta do more.
(27:47):
Yeah, I do more.
My, my wife, stepmom last year
texted me, in March.
She said,I want you to hear from me first.
I have pancreatic cancer. Stage three,I think.
And I think, yeah,I think it was two months later.
Two months.
That's it.
I think how old? Mid 70s, I think.
Okay. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
So yeah, I mean, yoga teacherorganic food I mean healthy.
(28:09):
Yeah. No, it's low stress.
Unbelievable.
I mean, one of the healthiest peopleI knew. Yeah. You know. Yeah.
Just a wonderful woman. Yeah.
You know, my friend being a doctor, he's
trying to explain to me about mutationsand how things can happen and whatnot.
And it's like, okay, you know, it's just,
I don't know, it's,
scary, scary stuff,but you doing something like this
Ron Foley Foundation, you know, just,you know, taking what happened to Barbara
(28:33):
and making it into thisunbelievable event, raises money and.
Yeah, you know, finding out what the whatthe researchers are doing and hopefully,
you know, we're going to be ableto do something about this.
Yeah. And I was talking to Jack and Kate.
And not only is it
raising money for research, it's raisingmoney to help families that are suffering.
And that's huge.
When we,
(28:55):
Debbie Lafon, my wife's cousin,
she was the first recipientof Ron's rescue.
And so, when that first came out,
my wife Tracy,who works at channel three.
I know Tracy.
You know Tracy. Yeah, exactly.Yeah. How are you doing?
You know. Great. Good, good, good. Oh.
So, you know, all of us in this business,we all know each other.
(29:18):
And she, she had gotten to know Barbara,somehow, probably through, you know,
probably had her in on the showor something, but anyhow, they
supplied, Debbie and her
two daughters, the ability to go to Disney World, and,
you know, they were there,and I didn't want to say
(29:40):
it was maybe May,and she was gone in October.
Wow. So.
Yeah, but they got to have thatone last special love thing.
So, so helping the family, it's importantbecause, you know,
it happens to a person, but it's thewhat it does to the whole family.
Just. Yeah. It affects the whole family.Yeah. Yeah I used way. Yeah.
Oh absolutely.
Oh was it.How many years we've been doing this.
And we got to wrapbecause I just heard some thunder.
Yeah I gotta we gotta get out of here.I've been doing this now.
(30:03):
I probably a solid ten years.
Maybe. Maybe has been that long.
Yeah,yeah. So, it along your own. Barbara.
Known Barbara for probably
going on and, eight,
eight, nine, ten years.
Yeah.
So. So, okay,so about a while, so right on.
So quite wonderful.
Yeah.
One of the organization, and, we just,
(30:23):
you know, have to get, you know, we gottawe gotta, gotta get rid of this stuff.
Yeah. And she keeps coming.
She just every year,she keeps chugging along.
Oh, you know, every dayshe's, you know, she's working.
But what you can do to to make people'slives a little bit better.
And it's better for all the great peoplethat come to an event like this
and, you know, moneythat is raised through other organizations
and the big walks,those at the Pan can walk out into Rhode
(30:45):
Island last weekend, you know, we, we we can't stop.
So is she. Involved with other,organizers?
I'm sure she is a she.
I know she's involvedwith another nonprofit out of Hartford,
but they're they dothey don't do cancer stuff.
But is you involved with other, cancerresearch?
Pancreatic cancer research.
Nonprofit groups is ashe goes, I say, yeah, well,
I mean, as far as the, you know,the different doctors and so forth. And.
(31:08):
Yeah, she okay. Yes. She is.
Yeah. So, just,
we're,you know, we're continuing to fight.
You just don't know from day to day.That's the whole thing.
When I see my friend,
one day find the next day she's got this,you just don't know.
So you just don't know. Oh.
So is there anything you can tell usthat's going to be exciting?
Maybe different,that you're doing for the first time
this yearthat you haven't done in past years.
Anything like.
(31:28):
Well, you got it.
We got $100 raffle ticket, for a,
a bottle of bourbon,that's worth like, $1,000.
We got a great necklacefor $2,200 from Monarch Jewelers.
We got some wonderful live auction items,which is always great.
And, and then, speakers,you know, hearing the stories.
Yeah.
Compelling storiesabout what people have been through
(31:49):
and then hearing from the doctors about,
you know, what's happening and,and what what we're doing to love it.
Get rid of the stress.
Of this awful thing.
It affects everybody.
It's just about anybody you talk to. Yeah.
So somewhere as a related. Yeah.
With but you know now just for meit just keeps hitting too much you know.
So I needwe need to fight. Perfect. Keep fighting.
Yeah you fight Joe.
(32:10):
You get back to work. We're goingto. We're going to thank you.
All right. Great pleasure.See you. Good. You're great.
You're awesome. Thanks so much.All right, now let's pack up.
Get out of here with that. Joe,we had to go.
All right, get under the table.
We'll see. Joe on.
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