In June 2023, 35-year-old James Alexis walked into a hospital as a healthy, active young man and walked out with a devastating diagnosis: stage 4 colon cancer that had already spread to his liver and was rapidly advancing. Overnight, his world was turned upside down. Through every treatment, setback, and difficult day since, James has held tightly to the two reasons he continues to fight: his daughters, Penelope and Amelia, now in 2nd and 4th grade. They are his joy, his purpose, and the center of his life.

Shortly after his diagnosis, James’ life took another heartbreaking turn when he also found himself navigating single fatherhood. James met this new reality with the same quiet strength and devotion he has always shown his daughters, pouring every ounce of himself into making sure Penelope and Amelia feel loved, secure, and cherished.

Since his diagnosis, James has undergone dozens of rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, one of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Once an avid yogi, hiker, and weightlifter who thrived on being active outdoors, cancer has taken away many of the things James loved most. But what cancer can never take away is his devotion to Penelope and Amelia.

Colon cancer is tragically on the rise in young adults like James. It is now the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States for people under 55. For those diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, the five-year survival rate is just 14%. These statistics make James’ fight even more urgent and heartbreaking.

James grew up in Olney, Maryland, graduating from Sherwood High School in 2006. For the past two years, he has been unable to work due to his illness, leading to financial hardship and uncertainty about the future. Through it all, James and his girls have relied on the love and support of his family, who remain by his side every step of the way.

The Burch Open is not only a tribute to James’ courage, but also a way to support Penelope and Amelia in the years ahead. While it is likely that James will not live to see his daughters graduate, get married, or start families of their own, our hope is that through the generosity of others, they will always feel the strength of their father’s love and the embrace of a community that honors his legacy.