By TANYA GARCIA | Lansing News Wire
Army veteran Justin Gonzales has faced battles on and off the battlefield. A proud service member who spent years defending freedom in the Middle East, Gonzales now finds himself in the fight of his life—this time against colon cancer.
“I’m having a golf outing to promote cancer awareness,” Gonzales said. “I’m going through cancer right now myself and I would like to educate people who have not gone through this. I would not wish this on anyone, but this is a very serious thing that I was diagnosed with and I’m doing this fundraiser for me and the community.”
The 52-year-old Lansing resident is organizing the local golf tournament to raise awareness about the devastating impact of cancer, particularly among veterans like himself, and to help fund his ongoing treatment. Diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022, Gonzales has already undergone major surgery and rounds of chemotherapy. While the journey has taken a toll on his health and finances, he remains committed to pushing forward—with the same determination that defined his military service.
The Golf Tournament will take place at Centennial Acres Golf Course on June 29, and begins at 9 a.m. The cost per player is $80, or $320 per team of four players. There will be a raffle and prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt to draw more excitement to the contest.
Register for the golf tournament HERE
Gonzales said $100 Hole sponsorships are available as well as donations for those interested in helping, but not participating in the golf game. Donations can be sent to Gonzales’ Venmo @Justin-Gonzales-45 or by calling him directly at (517) 862-2978.
“I didn’t expect to come home from the Army only to be faced with something like this,” Gonzales said. “But I believe there’s a reason for everything. If I can turn my struggle into something positive that helps others, then it’s all worth it.”
Gonzales strongly suspects that his exposure to hazardous environments during deployments in the Middle East played a role in his diagnosis. He says he’s not alone.
“There are other guys I served with who are dealing with the same thing—cancers, respiratory issues, and more. It’s not a coincidence,” he said. “We were out there defending freedom, and now we’re paying the price.”
It aims to not only support Gonzales’s treatment costs but also spark conversations about the long-term health effects many veterans are facing after their service.
Organizers hope the event will draw veterans, community members, and supporters from across the state.
For Gonzales, the tournament is about more than just fundraising. It’s about building a network of support, sharing his story, and making sure no veteran faces cancer alone.
“I fought for this country. Now I’m fighting for my life,” he said. “But with the community behind me, I know I’m not in this battle by myself.”
Anyone interested in participating in the tournament, sponsoring a team, or donating to Gonzales’s cancer fund can contact Justin Gonzales at (517) 862-2978.
ABOUT CANCER:
According to Music Beats Cancer website, in 2020, an estimated 2.5 million people were diagnosed with cancer in Northern America.
The five most common cancers for both sexes in all ages are:
- Breast cancer (11% of the total number of diagnosed patients)
- Lung cancer (9.9%)
- Prostate cancer (9.4%)
- Colorectal cancer (7.1%)
- Melanoma skin cancer (4.1%)
One of many organizations that is helping people with Cancer is The Light of Hope James Closner Foundation. It’s mission provides financial aid for travel and lodging to disadvantaged cancer patients.
“We have been around since 2002 and we have helped over 1,000 applicants,” said Elaine Garcia, Director of the James Richard Closner Foundation. “We are trying to get our name out there so they do have their money for gas and hotels when they have to travel to get a second opinion and things like that. We have applicants for all types of Cancers.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells. Normally, human cells grow and multiply (through a process called cell division) to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes this orderly process breaks down, and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t. These cells may form tumors, which are lumps of tissue. Tumors can be cancerous or not cancerous (benign).
Cancerous tumors spread into, or invade, nearby tissues and can travel to distant places in the body to form new tumors (a process called metastasis). Cancerous tumors may also be called malignant tumors. Many cancers form solid tumors, but cancers of the blood, such as leukemias, generally do not.
Benign tumors do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. When removed, benign tumors usually don’t grow back, whereas cancerous tumors sometimes do. Benign tumors can sometimes be quite large, however. Some can cause serious symptoms or be life threatening, such as benign tumors in the brain.
Raul Garcia