That's good. So that's good. You're you're resilient. I'm resilient. We're resilient. Right. So yeah, you learned a valuable lesson then. And then my neighbor in the following year, he's up on a tree. He's like 20ft high and he's with a sore channel remember. And I told him my story and 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 train for him. Right. 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 ladders is 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. I do a lot of things around the house. I don't outsource everything, but they'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 going to make sure this doesn't happen again. Yeah, yeah. Well, so yeah. So anyway, so, they call you Hinkle? They do? Yeah. Yeah. So what? Tell me a little about yourself. How are you involved in the, Ron Foley 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. I believe, if my memory serves me correct. And the first, Ron's Ron, was, Kentucky Derby 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 it's been a very rewarding, activity to be part of.
Right. And not because I've been a huge driver. Right? I mean, Barbara has been the the beating heart of this organization since the beginning, but it's been fun to play a variety of roles over the years. Mostly labor, you know, I, you know, a lot of carrying things. Hauling things, you know, running out in the truck last minute, you know, building things at night, doing PowerPoints, whatever, whatever the job called for.
You know, we all rallied around Barbara to, to help grow this, you know, Ron was an important person in all of our lives. And, you know, that's always, you know, that's always kind of been the focus, right? Is is, you know, his memory and 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 journey thus 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 her when it was in her backyard, but, there's another place up the road where 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 Ron for trying to think exact dates here. But probably 2 or 3 years, prior to diagnosis.
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 Kate and I got married and I became part of the family, having that connection has been incredible, right? Because, you know, he still is, is a beacon and a lot of great memories that, you know, that we, we still share together. And so knowing him and having that personal relationship is, 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 people that are, you know, and it's not just pancreatic cancer too. I think it's just awareness of cancer, period. 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 always she'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? 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's sort 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 here and there, but I don't really know. How did you know? What's your memory. Of. Yeah. So my my memory of Ron, you know, big you know, he is very quiet guy. But if you were in his inner circle, right. He was he was big personality. You know, he's very devoted to his family, you know, love to fish. Love to have a good time. Love to joke around.
You know, he was, you know, he was he 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. I was starting my career. Right. And I think at that at the time when he and I first met, I actually didn't have a job right here I 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, this, this relationship and I can go any further. He always like to say that I pulled it out on, 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 me about about business.
And, you know, he was, he was different because he was, from a different era where they, you know, he showed up at travelers at a college and, you know, started, you know, the mailroom or wherever in a while worked his way up to to CFO, of the company, and, you know, took the company through, you know, some, some big acquisitions, 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. 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 chart my path and my career, you know, it was something that I was constantly trying to kind of pepper people with. Hey, what about this? What do you think about this company and those types of things? And, you know, he was impressed with my first job was at Lehman Brothers, which was, an investment bank. And, you know, he was he thought that was pretty cool.
But, you know, the one thing that he didn't see in his lifetime was that the company actually went bankrupt in 2008. Yeah. And I remember that. During the financial crisis. So, yeah. No, he was, he was a great guy. And, you know, I think this event is a is 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 that that sort of sticks with you mentioned said you still think about things he's told you. There's anything that you think. Yeah, I mean, the share. I mean, the one of them was, you know, he he 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 company can 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? And I always sort of think about that when you think about, you know, some of these companies and you know, whether they're, you know, they've got some fat that you can trim and 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. Okay. You know, one of his, his wish on his wish list was to rent a big house on Lake Winnipesaukee. It was a place that, he had gone to for, you know, substantial part of his childhood growing up and and with the family during the early days.
So we rented a big house there and, and I was cooking steaks one night, and, you know, Kate's brothers were 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 credit for 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.
And so it led to, this joke that we have going 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 you and that steak. Love it. That steak story always sticks in my head because, her brother Mark was there and he always brings that one up. So those are two stories that 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 said your mom gave you that nickname? Oh, it was my mom. It was actually, So I went to, I went to boarding school in New Hampshire, 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 a he was a junior when I was a freshman. And and he actually got the nickname first, and it was there. I wish there was a better story, but it 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 college with a couple buddies from prep school, and they followed me and so did the name. And then that's I met my wife Kate, at, at college. And so then she knew me as Hinkle from the beginning. And it's just followed me to the point where 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 at the time. So, you know, I and I think throughout most 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 nicknames we 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 and after that you get professional or whatever. Yeah. But, so what it were they call you can't go work. No, not at work. The one that that I can't escape 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. So then there's a bunch of derivatives that come off of that.
But that's been one that has been hard to catch as well. That's a good one. Yeah. It's not that nice. So what are you think this 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's photographers, 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.
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 laborers to like, showing up as guests. Right? Because at that, at this point, and I'm going to get it wrong.
But maybe it's where ten years in, by the time we moved here, and at that point we had much more of a well-oiled machine where there was less of that last minute, you know, run into Home Depot or run into the nursery or we forgot this at the house. Right. And, you know, we've got professional vendors and, and so I've loved having it here. And each year they found ways to make it better.
And I think that having the inside here and not having to worry about the weather takes 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. It's still got the horse theme, which I think is great. Yeah. And, yeah, in this time of year in 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're absolutely right, Yeah, yeah. 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 person that's here, you know, and, you know, in terms of this, of add to I think that, you know, the folks that attend have have grown over time. I think that, you know, we've been able to, you know, attract different groups of people right before it was, you know, you were 1 or 2 degrees of 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, 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 scale now when you actually don't know everybody that's here, but and you get to meet everybody that is here, you know, has some connection to, pancreatic cancer and, you know, shows up and is, is happy to be here.
And, you know, I think is, you know, typically a, a great person. There's not anybody that I've met here that, you know, I think, you know, falls outside that, that realm. Cool. Yeah. Awesome. And I'm going to wrap it up. I'm call you 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 point where 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. 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 here outside 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 ahead and introduce self for us.
Tell me what you. Well, I'm just going to do it. That's Kate, and this is Jack. Jack, you are Ron's cousin? That's correct. You guys are from Philly, and you are one 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. 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 Barbara as a couple. Right. And, the rest is kind of history all these years later. Oh. That's terrific. Oh, I love that. Yeah. I just had Hinkle as just I didn't know I asked him and he says, my name is Chris. I said, I'm supposed to have Hinkle. 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 while and 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 Ron all that long before I passed. 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 think it'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 spent together. Probably family functions and things like that. You can tell us about that. Well, we had a lot of fun together. Ron had a beautiful 61 Viking that 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 Bermuda and then went fishing in Bermuda. And then we had such a great time caught up a really large, 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 literally across the street from each other. Oh. Get out. Okay. Now, when there were no. 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. My businesses were in the city. Kate was. Or public relations for person that handled all of our. I own McDonald's restaurants. Oh, cool. But so where Kate handled all the public relations for us in in our region. So okay. So Rahm was a bigger than life character, though. He had a heart the size of the state of Connecticut and was such a warm and caring person about so many people. And he was overly generous.
I mean, he was just that guy that just wanted everybody to have a good time, feel good, and he wanted you to feel like today's a good day and I'm going to help make that happen. And he was that person all the time. Well. 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 good with young people.
He loved all the young guys. Like his is his own children, of course, but his own children's friends. And watching that and the dynamic with them was always really pretty special. And Barbara to that together they would be like everybody's parents 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 joy to other people and and.
The second. Home that people. Okay. Well yeah. So were you at I'm assuming you were at the first. We were, event at Barbara's in Barbara's backyard. 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 friends and neighbors, and, they all just volunteered. And together, they worked super hard to help her figure this out. And they've watched it grow. And evolve over all the years.
It's been already spectacular, the amount of development that's happened. And now that they're this thriving nonprofit. It's it's incredible. We've never missed one. Yeah. Did she start it with the notion involved of of it create a nonprofit or she just want to have an event for Ron's memory? Sort of. What was the, It was to raise money for pancreatic cancer. It was okay for sure. Yeah. For sure. And it just started as an event to raise money and exact.
So the so the event started first and 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 idea was to raise money for research. And then as it started to come together very quickly, they started to understand what families really needed because they had been through it themselves. 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 families in need to do Von's Rescue. And I think both both are really important. And I think the fact that they're balanced in their own visual and understanding of how pancreatic cancer really hits families, is really important. And, I'm pretty proud of the fact that they were able to think about that. And, really focus on individual needs. So many organizations really and focus on research.
And this part I think is really an important piece of it, too. So amazing. The growth so did they did was the was the the funds that was initially raised, was that for research or 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 originally for research. Right. And because there was already an established pancreatic, cancer foundation or group, several of them.
And I think Barbara then started to get in touch with the hospitals and started working with doctors. The outreach in the communication that she's had with really world renown specialists has been pretty extraordinary. So she she has learned so much about the disease by how it impacts families, that she just keeps building the foundation to be supportive of where the greatest needs are. Yeah, yeah, because you think about research, which is important.
But I think that the families have 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 just how do people go about requesting it? How does that all work? I think there's an application. I think they can turn it really fast within a week or two weeks. Oh, well. And, they just need to have some information from the patient's doctor and they file it.
And then as soon as they review it and they know that it's all, you know, in good order of the paperwork, they get a check off to them and it just adds sometimes it's for a special last wish or a trip with a family member. Oh, well, sometimes it's for immediate needs at the home to help carry expenses. So it just depends on the individual person and what they need. Do you know how much that kind of money the the foundation has distributed? 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 on there were just so grateful that, you know, they have this disease and they need it. And they reached out and, and, Ron, for the foundation was able to help them out financially, get through some tough times.
And that's that's amazing. Yeah. I think that's really, really good I love it. How's the event so far? And I just got here. But how is the house as shaping up to 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 facility much better, than than it was before. Which was also still a good facility. 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 outside now in studio. Yeah. We basically. Yeah. Boats. Yeah. That's wonderful. That's really, really good. The volunteer group that keeps putting this together every year there's a very small paid staff by the volunteer group that helps make all this come together is pretty exceptional.
And the fact that so many of these people then with this in the very beginning, the surprise and to see that longevity, commitment from the volunteers is 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 genuinely thankful and appreciative and just humbled by every I just it's really she's. An amazing. Lady. Yeah. She really, really is. Yeah. And I wish I knew Ron because every time I hear
people talk about he's extraordinary. Yeah. Yeah. The buddy. Yeah. No, I sounds like it, like it was so awesome. Is there anything else you'd like to chat to me about? Anything you think people should know? Whether what you know about pancreatic cancer or how people can can help, people. That might be a need. They need social support organizations like 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. 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 in for the silent auction, which is what you put your money in for the silent auction 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 raised later in the.
Budget rate. Radio event and 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 here and 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. 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's kind 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 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 summer about five years ago, and she was going through the summer, and my wife's like, you know what? Something's not right. And so they went back and pancreatic cancer 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 back about 4 or 5 months ago. I met my best friend. We grew up together.
I was his best man on his wedding 41 years ago. Right now, he's a doctor. He's a chief operating officer for Nuance Medical here in Connecticut. They are, he has pancreatic cancer. Oh, my gosh. So he's been through radiation and chemo or 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 little something on his pancreas, and then all of a sudden, in three months, it was huge. And so pancreatic cancer is just.
It's unbelievable. And, you know, things happen where, you know, you get little ideas that something might 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 people are getting pancreatic cancer these days, and we keep fighting. But it's, We gotta we gotta do more. 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 teacher organic food I mean healthy. Yeah. No, it's low stress. Unbelievable. I mean, one of the healthiest people I 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 mutations and 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 and making it into this unbelievable event, raises money and. Yeah, you know, finding out what the what the researchers are doing and hopefully, you know, we're going to be able to do something about this. Yeah. And I was talking to Jack and Kate.
And not only is it raising money for research, it's raising money to help families that are suffering. And that's huge. When we, Debbie Lafon, my wife's cousin, she was the first recipient of 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.
And she, she had gotten to know Barbara, somehow, probably through, you know, probably had her in on the show or 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 it was maybe May, and she was gone in October. Wow. So. Yeah, but they got to have that one last special love thing.
So, so helping the family, it's important because, you know, it happens to a person, but it's the what 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 wrap because I just heard some thunder. Yeah I gotta we gotta get out of here. I've been doing this now. 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, you know, have to get, you know, we gotta we gotta, gotta get rid of this stuff. Yeah. And she keeps coming. She just every year, she keeps chugging along. Oh, you know, every day she's, you know, she's working. But what you can do to to make people's lives a little bit better.
And it's better for all the great people that come to an event like this and, you know, money that is raised through other organizations and the big walks, those at the Pan can walk out into Rhode 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 involved with another nonprofit out of Hartford, but they're they do they don't do cancer stuff. But is you involved with other, cancer research?
Pancreatic cancer research. Nonprofit groups is a she goes, I say, yeah, well, I mean, as far as the, you know, the different doctors and so forth. And. 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 us that's going to be exciting?
Maybe different, that you're doing for the first time this year that you haven't done in past years. Anything like. 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 necklace for $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 stories about what people have been through 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 me it just keeps hitting too much you know. So I need we need to fight. Perfect. Keep fighting. Yeah you fight Joe.
You get back to work. We're going to. 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.