Dad of two with terminal cancer and weeks to live asked his doctor one question — it’s still changing lives 15 years later
When Penn State's adjunct faculty member Greg Griffith was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he was told that he'd live for only a couple of weeks. Greg had only one question for his doctor at that moment. That selfless ask made sure that his presence lived on through the initiative he took. Nearly 15 years after his passing, Greg Griffith's big heart has paved the way for saving more lives and spreading awareness about the disease, as reported by PEOPLE on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
The dad of two boys, Jordan and Jamie, worked as an adjunct faculty member at Penn State and was a favorite in the community. He had a passion for sports, especially basketball and football. He was happily married to his wife, Cathy, a dental hygienist. "He had a gregarious personality, and everyone enjoyed being around him," she recounted. However, tragedy struck when Greg was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and was told by his doctor, James Moser, that he may only live for a couple of weeks. On hearing the heartbreaking news, Greg immediately asked: "What can Cathy and I do for you?" Despite being given only a few weeks to live, Greg went on to live for nearly two years, until he breathed his last in August 2011, when he was 50.
However, his death gave rise to the Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation, which opened doors to Sideline Cancer, an initiative that raises money through high school sports events to donate to pancreatic cancer research and help those diagnosed with the disease. According to a 2025 study published in PubMed, the survival rate of pancreatic cancer is 27.6%. Hence, Greg's initiative to promote more research on the disease is indeed a noble cause. Between 2011 and 2020, the foundation has been able to raise over $300,000 for the cause.
Greg's son Jordan, who takes pride in his late father's initiative, hailed his father's 'I can' attitude. Following Greg's diagnosis, a Griff Run and Gun event was launched as a tribute to him. The second Griff Run and Gun for the Cure dinner marked Greg's last dinner before his untimely death. The Sideline Cancer initiative raises money through sports events that take place in Hollidaysburg High School. "We get to show them in their best light, presenting themselves in a way that's philanthropic, while also showing that, 'Hey, we do care about our school and our school community,'" Jordan shared. The Sideline Cancer initiative's basketball team has played a vital role in its mission, competing in a million-dollar prize competition for the last 10 years.
In 2020, the team finished as the runner-up in the TBT championship, losing to the Golden Eagles. Despite challenges until 2019, the basketball team has been able to grow in the last few years. Apart from sports, the foundation also raises money for school staff and students who face financial difficulties. The foundation has donated over $250,000 to 70 cancer patients in 25 schools and universities across Central Pennsylvania. During a Sideline Cancer basketball game in 2024, two students at Northern Bedford were diagnosed with cancer. The foundation came forward to raise over $12,000 for their treatment. Cathy believes that her husband is watching over them, leading a heartfelt cause. "Greg, I know, is looking down, and he's leading us because we get signs from him all the time on which direction to go," she said.