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Winter 2015 : My Moon Shot: David Ekas

My Moon Shot

David Ekas, a melanoma survivor and Marathon Oil Company employee, established the Oilfield Melanoma Moon Shot Fund with a $20,000 personal commitment. He reflects on his motivation to encourage others to support the Melanoma Moon Shot and his hope for a cure.

BY David Ekas

David and his wife, Marian Jamieson, share their story at the 2014 Moon Shots Program Update.

"Six years ago I was at a friend’s lake house. His mom saw a mole, and she said I needed to get in to see a dermatologist ASAP. They took the mole off and diagnosed it as melanoma. At that point, they referred me to MD Anderson. Everyone has been pleasant, helpful, trying to do whatever they can to make your stay easier. It’s really hard to put a value on that.

I started the Oilfield Melanoma Moon Shot Fund to see if I could involve my company, my friends, organizations that I belong to. I hope that because of this fund and other donations we’ll have a cure or a preventive for melanoma."

What’s your moon shot? Contact us at promise@mdanderson.org and tell us why MD Anderson’s Moon Shots Program is important to you.

"I hope that because of this fund and other donations we'll have a cure or a preventative for melanoma."

David Ekas

survivor

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