“You have cancer.”
It’s a sentence no one wants to hear—yet far too many do.
For Veronica Doyle and her family, those devastating words came in March 2023, when she was diagnosed with lung cancer at just 51 years old.
“It was shocking,” recalls her husband, Mike. “She was healthy. She had never smoked—this was completely unexpected. Our family and community rallied around her, and I truly believe that if love alone could save someone, we would have.”
Despite the outpouring of love and the world-class care she received from Dr. Laura Lourdes and the Southpoint team, Veronica lost her battle with cancer just shy of a year after her diagnosis.
“Veronica was kind and gentle—like an angel,” shares Dr. Lourdes. “I often think of a quote by the Dalai Lama when I remember her: ‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.’ That was Veronica.”
“She was just incredible,” adds Mike. “She had the biggest heart. She was the best mom and grandma. When our son got into disc golf, she was at every tournament—caddying for him, cheering him on. Always present, always supportive.”
It was that same sport—disc golf—that eventually connected the Doyle family with the Patient Assistance Foundation.
“After we lost Veronica, my son and I, along with our disc golf community, wanted to do something that would both celebrate her memory and give back,” says Mike.
That’s when the Veronica Doyle Memorial Disc Golf Tournament was born.
“We wanted the funds raised to go to something meaningful—something that would help local cancer patients,” Mike explains. “I reached out to Veronica’s team at CSNF, and they introduced me to the Patient Assistance Foundation.”
When he spoke with the Foundation’s director, one program stood out: the Christmas Families Program.
“Every year when our son was little, he and Veronica would pick a family from the angel tree to sponsor,” Mike remembers. “They’d shop together, wrap the gifts, and make sure another family had a beautiful holiday. When I heard that this program did the same thing—just on a larger scale—I knew that’s where we needed to donate.”
Each holiday season, the Foundation selects three to four families facing cancer and hardship, then works to fulfill their entire Christmas lists.
“We spend about $3,000 per family,” explains Board President Beth Page. “And that doesn’t even include additional gifts donated by staff, friends, family, and community partners.”
“When I heard that number,” Mike said, “I thought, ‘That’s a great goal. We can do that. We can raise enough to help at least one family.’”
Not only did they meet that goal—they exceeded it.
On June 21, 2025, the first-ever Veronica Doyle Memorial Disc Golf Tournament—organized by Mud Bugs Disc Golf and Jack and Tina Hicks—welcomed nearly 100 participants and raised more than $6,000, enough to support two full Christmas lists for families in need.
“We’re overjoyed,” says Mike. “It’s a true testament to the life and legacy of Veronica. And we’re already looking forward to raising even more next year.”
