TeamConnor continues to battle childhood cancer in memory of Connor Cruse

When Connor Cruse was just four years old, he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer. His devastated and shocked parents, Tait and Joy Cruse of Frisco, immediately started the fight against this horrible disease that was invading their son’s body. 

The Cruses entered a new world of doctor visits, hospitalizations and treatments across the country, desperately seeking a cure to save their son. 

It wasn’t a mission they chose, but they quickly learned they had to direct more money to the fight against pediatric cancer. Cancer is the number one disease killer of children. Cancer kills more children each year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined, yet the National Cancer Institute allocates only 3% of its funds to pediatric cancer research.

“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, it is very difficult to process everything that is happening to your child and the life you had planned,” said Tait Cruse, managing partner of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network-Texas Financial Group. “In the midst of the chaos, a family should not have to worry about financing their child’s treatment. We are blessed we didn’t have that struggle on top of everything else. However, there are a lot of families who are struggling to make ends meet. TeamConnor is a resource to help.”

TeamConnor is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for more research and providing support to families impacted by a child battling cancer.

One of the recent fundraisers benefiting TeamConnor was the III Forks Golf Classic and Auction, which raised more than $125,000.  The dinner and auction held at III Forks restaurant in Dallas featured a live and silent auction. One of the live auction items featured a painting created by Connor Cruse. In vivid blues and greens, Connor captured his four-year battle with cancer on canvas. Connor visualized his battle with cancer as a war, with army men, guns and blood. 

The day after the dinner and auction, the III Forks Golf Classic was held at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano. More than 50 teams participated in the tournament, which was held on both courses. 

Sponsors of the III Forks Golf Classic and Auction included Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, The Plus Group, Sewell Lexus, Ben E. Keith, Republic National Distributing Company, Rodman, LLC., Edward Baumann Clothiers, PAMA Liqeuer, Aardvark Communications, JHF Legal, The Jeff Jenkins Foundation, Mom and Popcorn Company, Quintessa, and Freedman Meats, Inc. 

On July 10, 2009, eight-year old Connor Cruse lost his four-year battle with cancer.  But TeamConnor will continue to fight for all the other children who are battling cancer. More info is available at www.teamconnor.org.