A beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend, Marshall Insley lost his two-year battle with colon cancer last October. Marshall’s quiet strength, loyalty and easy smile will be missed by all who knew him, but certainly never forgotten.
In honor and memory of Marshall, UNC Lineberger partnered with his family and friends to host the inaugural Marshall Insley Classic at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. This special event on July 25 raised awareness and philanthropic support for the Marshall Insley Cancer Research Fund as well as bringing together a group of people who loved Marshall for a wonderful day of fun, fellowship and golf. Shelton Earp, MD, Director of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Wesley Burks, MD, CEO of UNC Health and Dean of the UNC School of Medicine, were among a team of representatives from Chapel Hill who also attended.
A lifelong Tar Heel, Marshall, a member of the UNC soccer team and a 2002 graduate, was blessed with a loving family and a wide range of friends spanning from before his days at UNC, through the years during his successful career in New York City and his family life in Bronxville, New York. Among the many gifts Marshall was blessed with, the singular quality about him that will be remembered most was his positivity.
After he was diagnosed, Marshall faced a tough road ahead. He was determined to be the exception, to beat the odds with the hope that the quickly evolving medical treatment therapies would catch up to and beat the disease. Despite his diagnosis, he was always smiling and conveyed a sense of calm that was an inspiration to anyone he met along the way. Unfortunately, despite all his effort, Marshall ran out of time and we lost our friend.
In cooperation with UNC Lineberger, Marshall’s family and friends have established the Marshall Insley Cancer Research Fund to support critical cancer research conducted at UNC to continue to gain ground on the treatment of this terrible disease. In less than nine months, Marshall’s network of friends and family along with other supporters have contributed more than $1 million. Through this research and evolving treatment options, the goal of the fund is to allow Marshall’s legacy of positivity and determination to its way to helping those who face similar challenges and make a difference in his name.
About the Marshall Insley Cancer Research Fund
The Marshall Insley Cancer Research Fund is an endowment that supports colon cancer research at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. UNC’s colon cancer research is currently focused on identifying tumor markers that could be useful in future immunotherapy trials and researching the diet and microbiome of patients to better understand causes and prevention. From a population sciences perspective, the Fund will also support the Carolina Cancer Screening Initiative (CCSI). Catalyzed by emerging evidence of high colorectal cancer mortality in North Carolina, the CCSI is focused on addressing colorectal cancer screening disparities in the state.
About the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is a cancer research and treatment center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Serving patients at the N.C. Cancer Hospital, UNC Lineberger is the only public comprehensive cancer center in the state of North Carolina. As one of only 52 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, UNC Lineberger was rated as exceptional – the highest category – by the National Cancer Institute. The center brings together some of the most exceptional physicians and scientists in the country to investigate and improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer.
For more information on supporting UNC Lineberger, please contact Kara Raynor, Senior Director of Development and Communications, kara_raynor@med.unc.edu, 281.389.2344. To make a gift in support of the Marshall Insley Cancer Research Fund, visit unchf.org/marshall.