HOW TO KEEP HOLLY’S LEGACY ALIVE:

Please consider joining Team Holly in the fight against gastric cancer and donating to the Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund at MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Holly and her family created this fund in hopes that many others down the road can continue to benefit from the great care she received and treatment options yet to be discovered. One hundred percent (100%) of these funds will go towards gastric cancer research at MD Anderson. This could help find a cure one day! Every little bit helps and we are so grateful for any amount of support.  If you would like to donate, please see the instructions below.

HOW TO DONATE

1)      WRITE CHECK

2)      Make Check PAYABLE To The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and REFERENCE Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund.

3)      MAIL TO:

MD Anderson

P.O. Box 4486

Houston, TX  77210-4486

OR Online Donation

1)      http://Gifts.mdanderson.org

2)      Complete all fields

ANY AMOUNT HELPS!

HOLLY’S GASTRIC CANCER STORY

“As someone who loves to cook, loves to eat, and a cookbook author (I have even written a cancer cookbook!), never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be diagnosed with gastric cancer last August.  I was completely blindsided because I didn’t have any risk factors and had less than a week of symptoms. I recall sitting at MD Anderson Cancer Center during my first appointment with Dr. Badgwell and feeling numb. Stomach cancer? I had not heard of someone having this before.

Hearing the words uttered Stage III or Stage IV at best, I wondered what happened to Stage I and Stage II? I learned in that moment most people do not show signs of stomach cancer until it is at minimum locally advanced (Stage III). The doctors laid out my treatment plan – 8 round

s of chemotherapy treatment (oxaliplatin + fluorouracil pump), a HIPEC (heated chemotherapy applied to my abdomen) and a gastrectomy + HIPEC. My goal was to be a candidate for a gastrectomy…the irony was not lost on me, a cookbook author without a stomach!

Listen to my radio interview from June 27, 2019 with Murphy, Sam and Jodi HERE. Tune in starting at 21:10 to begin listening!”

At Home At MD Anderson Cancer Center

“Despite the long road ahead, I immediately felt at home at MD Anderson with Dr. Badgwell (my gastric surgeon) and Dr. Blum Murphy (my gastric oncologist). I had eternal confidence in my medical team and found myself incredibly thankful to have access to the newest treatment options and clinical trials for gastric cancer. Since stomach cancer is rare in the U.S., I found myself traveling down a path only a few had experienced. In fact, I was patient number 19 for a clinical trial combining a gastrectomy + HIPEC surgery! Additionally, the last 10 months I have jumped at any opportunity to participate in research projects in hopes my battle can help others.”

THE FACTS

According to the American Cancer Society, in the United States, about 27,000 cases of stomach cancer will be diagnosed in 2019. This is compared to more than 268,000 breast cancer cases and over 11,000 will die from this disease. Globally stomach cancer is a much bigger problem with nearly one million of cases diagnosed every year. Stomach cancer remains the second cause of death (738,000 deaths annually) of all malignancies worldwide. Stomach cancer mostly affects people over the age of 65, and there is a higher risk for men compared to women. Risk factors can include diet, inherited conditions, infection with Helicobacter pylori (a type of bacteria) and unknown environmental causes.

More Groundbreaking Research To Be Done

Through groundbreaking research, experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have pioneered many improvements in treating stomach cancer. Many of which I have already benefited from! Their physicians have led some of the largest international studies on chemotherapy for stomach cancer. They also have an amazing balance of patient care and continued discovery. However, there is more research to be done and my hope following my diagnosis is to raise awareness of stomach cancer. It is so important to continue to drive the team’s efforts to find new and better treatments.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and joining me in this fight! I am eternally grateful for #TeamHolly. My battle has been documented on a caring bridge site for those interested here.

Lots of love,

Holly

Current UPDATE on What Your Funding is Doing for Gastric Cancer Research!

With the constant concern of COVID-19, it is with tremendous sadness we have made the decision to postpone any events in 2020 to raise money for “The Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund.” We can’t tell you how much we appreciate the overwhelming support and money that was raised in year one. We are pleased to inform you that your financial support has opened up 2 clinical trials at MD Anderson Cancer Center consisting of 40 people that will have an opportunity to battle this cruel and terrible disease. Their work has only just begun and thanks to your donations, we expect more clinical trials to open up! This fight will continue and #TeamHolly will never quit so that someday we will realize Holly’s dream to put an end to cancer and the devastation it causes. In lieu of this year’s event, you may go to this link for Holly Clegg’s Gastric Cancer Research Fund at MD Anderson to submit a tax-deductible donation.

TRIM & TERRIFIC® AND FAVORITE RECIPES PRESS PARTNERSHIP

Holly Clegg and Team have worked with Favorite Recipes Press (FRP)  since 2006 and recently formalized a new partnership with her Trim & TERRIFIC® brand. ​Favorite Recipes Press (FRP), an imprint of Southwestern Publishing House, is the nation’s best known and most respected custom cookbook company. Since 1961, they have produced more than 150 award-winning cookbooks and partnered with hundreds of top-ranked chefs, food and appliance manufacturers, restaurants and resorts, health organizations, Junior Leagues, and nonprofit organizations to create over 1,500 cookbook titles.

JOIN US! WHISK AWAY GASTRIC CANCER FUNDRAISER EVENT WITH #TEAMHOLLY

Join us April 28th, 2022 for an incredible evening of food, fun and dancing to honor Holly Clegg and “Whisk Away Gastric Cancer with #TeamHolly” benefitting the Holly Clegg Gastric Cancer Research Fund at MD Anderson!

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Get All of Holly’s Healthy Easy Cookbooks