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By Rebecca Smith '99
George Spencer '00 was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia during his last year of high school. At the time, his symptoms were progressing so quickly that his doctor later told him that if he had waited two more days before seeking help, it would have been too late. 
Faced with intense treatment, Spencer decided to attend college close to his family home in Ashland, Mass. A member of the hockey team at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, Mass., he had played games at the Hart Center—and, through this experience, forged an early connection with Holy Cross.
Throughout that difficult summer before entering college, Spencer remembers the care and compassion of his younger sister, Jennifer.
"Jen stayed by my side the whole time," Spencer recalls. "She made me realize that when you're sick and lonely, it's important to be surrounded by supportive people."
A 2002 Boston College graduate, Jennifer majored in nursing and subsequently worked as a nurse oncologist on the bone marrow transplant floor at Children's Hospital in Boston. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in pediatric oncology at the University of Pennsylvania.
"My experience helped convince her that nursing is what she wanted to do," explains Spencer.
At Holy Cross, Spencer underwent weekly cancer treatments for two years in Boston. Since he could not play hockey, he took a work-study job driving the zamboni to stay connected to his favorite sport. By his third year, he was officially in remission. He graduated with a major in math—on time with the rest of the Class of 2000.
Like most cancer survivors, once Spencer had finished treatment, he continued his follow-up visits in Boston. It was during this time that he first attended The David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, established by David B. Perini Sr. '59 and his wife, Eileen, in memory of their son. The facility provides medical, educational and psychosocial services to survivors of childhood cancer.
Spencer was deeply influenced by his experiences at the Perini Clinic. With its sponsorship, he attended Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for kids with cancer. It was there that he became comfortable with being a cancer survivor—and decided to become further involved with the Perini Clinic.
"The Perinis are visionaries who were able to turn their son's death into something very positive and far-reaching," explains Spencer. "A lot of what I do wouldn't be possible if it weren't for them."
Now a nine-year survivor, Spencer volunteers his time giving talks about his survivorship journey. A varsity golf athlete at Holy Cross his third and fourth years, he currently speaks on behalf of the Jimmy Fund Golf Program. Together with Perini, Spencer participates annually in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge as a member of "Team Perini," biking 200 miles to raise money for the clinic. Spencer also serves on Dana-Farber's Pediatric Patient and Family Advisory Council, aiming to improve treatment conditions for children. And he attends Paul Newman's camp as a volunteer counselor every summer.
"I don't view giving back as a chore," explains Spencer. "I do it because I love it."
When he's not giving inspirational speeches or biking across the state, Spencer designs air traffic control systems for Raytheon. This past May, he earned his master of business administration degree from W.P.I. He also remains close to his hockey roots by coaching the first-year team at his high school. And he's getting married next summer. Still, he's not stopping there.
"Eventually, my dream job is to be director of the Jimmy Fund," says Spencer. "Right now, I don't think I am famous enough—but hopefully in a few years I will be."
"You know," he adds, "as they say on T.V., ‘I'm not only the president, I'm also a client.'"
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