At just 36 years old, Ryan Dwars was diagnosed in March of 2021 with pancreatic cancer. Shortly after his diagnosis, Ryan underwent significant surgery and completed chemotherapy in September 2021. Despite the overall poor prognosis and the fact that the disease is highly aggressive, all signs were looking up for Ryan, his wife Brooke, and their two young children.

Unfortunately, during a recent routine checkup, the Dwars family was informed that Ryan's cancer had spread to his liver. Ryan faces another round of chemotherapy beginning in December, with the potential for additional surgery in the Summer of 2023. Along with these life-saving treatments, Ryan and Brooke have incurred and will continue to incur thousands of dollars in medical bills and related expenses.

Many of you know Ryan. You may have walked with him in the hallways at Taft Middle School. Maybe you watched him on the gridiron at Kingston Stadium or the basketball court at Jefferson High School. Perhaps you attended a class with him at the University of Northern Iowa. He might be teaching your children at Iowa City West High School. Ryan is a fantastic father, a loving husband, and a great friend.

We all know someone impacted by cancer. The financial toll it takes on families is steep. Ryan, Brooke, and their two beautiful young children should not face this battle alone. As a community, we hope to continue raising money for the Dwars family to help defray some of their continual monthly medical costs so they can focus on Ryan's treatments.