‘If you can, you must help’: Carrying Cortney’s fight forward

These days, it’s rare to meet someone whose life hasn’t been touched by the words, “You have cancer.” For my family—and so many others—those words have come more than once. After losing my mother to cancer, they echoed through our lives again in 2023, when my wife, Cortney, was diagnosed with cancer du sein at age 49.

Her diagnosis—triple-negative breast cancer—is an aggressive form that grows quickly, has a higher rate of recurrence, and doesn’t respond to standard targeted therapies. Cortney’s treatment options were limited, and in August 2024, she died at age 50.

Cortney and I met in 2005 and quickly discovered a shared passion for giving back. Over the years, we built a life together in Naples, Florida, where Cortney became deeply involved in our community. She served on boards and women’s groups, including the Sustained Leadership Council of the Naples Botanical Garden and the Executive Committee of Georgia Woman Give, through her alma mater, the University of Georgia. She was a force—graceful, stylish and deeply compassionate.

Cortney faced her diagnosis with incredible courage. She met each day with determination, even when the odds were stacked against her. Her strength wasn’t just in enduring the treatments or the uncertainty—it was in how she continued to live fully and uplift others. I know she inspired many people walking the same path to fight on.

Throughout her diagnosis, we held onto hope. We believed in the promise of emerging research and the possibility of new treatments. But the reality was heartbreaking—there was nothing available that could help her. Still, we were hopeful for new tests and new treatments that were emerging every day.

Today, I still hold onto that hope. A combination of research and clinical excellence offers the possibility that more cancers can be prevented or detected earlier for better treatment options. During Cortney’s battle, we became deeply connected to the Breast Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center (UPMC), whose care and kindness meant everything to us during that time. In her honor, we established the Cortney and Kevin Beebe Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Research Fund so we can continue searching for answers to help those who need it.

But progress in cancer research isn’t just about institutions—it’s about individuals. It’s about people who care enough to act, to give and to push for change. Cortney believed in that. And I do, too.

Cortney and I had a simple motto when it came to philanthropy, especially causes close to our hearts: “If you can, you must help.” Early detection is a critical factor in improving survival. As an Emerald sponsor of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Gala annuel, I’m proud to play a role in staying ahead of cancer so we can one day live in a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all. It’s my way of continuing Cortney’s legacy and supporting the researchers working tirelessly to find answers for patients like her.

There is promising research on the horizon—research that can help people prevent cancer, detect it early or treat it effectively. It wasn’t soon enough for Cortney. But it will be for someone. And by committing to drive the progress we want to see, we can get there together.