Help Derek Morrison Fight Cancer and Support His Family

Derek Morrison is not the kind of man who asks for help.

If you know Derek, you know he’s always been the first to lend a hand, crack a joke to lift your spirits, or show up for you when it mattered most—without ever expecting anything in return. A proud husband, devoted father, and beloved friend, Derek is the definition of “salt of the earth.” Whether on the baseball field as a standout athlete at West Perry High School, in college, or later being a finance manager with a genuine smile and an unmatched work ethic—Derek has always shown up with heart and humility.

Now, he’s facing the biggest fight of his life.

Derek was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of tongue cancer. The treatment has been brutal. Surgeons had to remove part of the back of his tongue and perform a skin graft from his leg to reconstruct it. He is currently at home recovering—unable to speak clearly, eat solid food, or work. He is surviving on a feeding tube and weighs just 160 pounds.

But the road ahead is even tougher.

He now faces six weeks of radiation treatments, which will further delay his ability to return to the career he loves. Meanwhile, the financial burden is growing heavier by the day. Like many families in America, Derek's family was getting by—but his inability to work, combined with mounting medical bills, has created a perfect storm of stress, anxiety, and fear for the future.

Derek never asked for this fundraiser. He would never put himself first or ask others for help. But that’s exactly why we’re doing this for him. Because someone like Derek—who has given so much of himself to others—should never have to face this alone.

Imagine not being able to provide for your wife, daughter, and 4-year-old son, not because you don’t want to—but because your body is making it difficult to speak and eat. Imagine watching the bills pile up while you try to recover from invasive surgery and prepare for weeks of painful radiation. Imagine not being able to do the job you love—giving people financial advice and connecting with people—because cancer took that from you too.

Now imagine what it would mean to someone like Derek to know that people care enough to show up for him.

This is our moment to return the favor. To lift up someone who has always lifted others. To help a father, a husband, a friend, and a fighter get through the hardest chapter of his life.

Every dollar will go directly toward helping Derek and his family cover medical bills, living expenses, and essential needs during his recovery. No amount is too small. What matters most is showing Derek that he’s not in this alone.

Let’s come together and rally for someone who would never ask—but who deeply deserves our support.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

— Friends of Derek Morrison