Roger and Shirley Gordon, of Adams, presented on Tuesday a $2,450 donation to The Hormel Institute in their son’s memory.

Roger and Shirley Gordon, of Adams, presented on Tuesday a $2,450 donation to The Hormel Institute in their son’s memory.

Event dedicated to Adams native Ryan Gordon who died from cancer in 2011

Friends and family of the late Ryan Gordon, who passed away in November 2011 from stomach cancer at age 42, are supporting The Hormel Institute’s research in his memory.

Roger and Shirley Gordon, of Adams, presented on Tuesday a $2,450 donation to The Hormel Institute in their son’s memory. The donation was raised through the first Ryan Gordon Memorial Golf Tournament and silent auction on June 29 at the Cedar River Country Club in Adams. Overall, 63 golfers participated in the event.

“Ryan’s passion for golf was evident to anyone who knew him so this tournament was a very fitting tribute to him,” Shirley Gordon said.

Ryan passed away on Nov. 27, 2011, following a six-month battle with stomach cancer. He is survived by his wife, Shannon, and two sons: Jake, age 17, and Brecken, age 4.

As a golfer who used a lion golf head cover for years, Ryan was very inspired by the strength and courage of the lion, his mother said. When battling cancer, he used that inspiration to rally his support team with the phrase, “Let ’em hear you ROAR.” His friends and family, she said, often refer to his “ROAR” and the fact that it goes on inspiring people.

“Ryan’s generous heart and his care for others are going to be carried forward because of this gift to the Institute,” his wife, Shannon, said. “We are certain he would be extremely pleased knowing that he was helping others in some small way.”

As with all gifts to The Hormel Institute, 100 percent of the golf tournament’s gift will directly fund the Institute’s research focused on discoveries leading to the prevention and control of cancer.

With this type of community support, The Hormel Institute will continue to make progress in the fight against cancer, said Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute.

“All of us are deeply grateful for the Gordon family’s designation of The Hormel Institute as the recipient of this special gift in Ryan’s memory,” Dong said. “They truly understand that research is the only answer to cancer.”

The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota-Mayo Clinic, is a world-renowned cancer research center focused on discoveries leading to the prevention and control of cancer.

Last week, The Hormel Foundation announced it will commit $23 million toward The Hormel Institute’s next major expansion set to begin in 2014 to add laboratories and better space for its International Center of Research Technology. The Hormel Foundation will provide $13.5 million in funding that will match the State of Minnesota’s bonding for the expansion as well as $9.5 million for recruiting top scientists, equipping the labs with state-of-the-art equipment, and creating a work environment for cancer research.