Masonic Cancer Center saddened by loss of longtime friend and advocate, Judy Erdahl

The Masonic Cancer Center team is saddened by the loss of Judy Erdahl, a longtime friend, and an advocate of the cancer center.

Judy passed away this morning surrounded by loved ones after a lengthy battle with metastatic breast cancer. She is survived by her husband Steve, and their two adult sons, Luke and Ranen.

“I feel fortunate to have known Judy,” said Douglas Yee, MD, Director of the Masonic Cancer Center. “Her commitment to breast cancer advocacy and cancer research was extraordinary. She was a driving force in all matters pertaining to improving the outcomes for people with metastatic breast cancer; from funding research to providing input into grant applications to creating a conference focused on metastatic disease. Judy was the rare individual who used her personal story to inspire and motivate others; she realized that what happened to her was unacceptable and we have to work so much harder to make sure we can eliminate metastatic breast cancer.”

Judy, with the support of her friends and loved ones, started the Team Judy Fund for Metastatic Breast Cancer Research. 100% of the money raised by Team Judy supports seed research grants for metastatic breast cancer at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.

Judy also helped start the Midwest Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference, a partnership between Susan G. Komen Minnesota, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and the Masonic Cancer Center. The conference, a first of its kind in the area, is designed for people with metastatic breast cancer and those who participate in the care of those patients.

Judy Erdahl wins her own Vince Lombardi Trophy, for being a leader for a cancer cure