Patrick Cars Supports The HardyStrong Foundation

 

The HardyStrong Foundation, based in St. Charles, IL, was established in January 2023 as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to increase awareness and support for Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (stomach cancer). The foundation was inspired by the spirit of Justin Hardy and is dedicated to fostering a community that strives for a future where genetic causes of cancer are 100% detected and prevented, rather than treated.

Their mission is three-fold:

• Raising awareness and support for Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer.
• Providing resources to improve access to genetic testing for individuals at risk of cancer.
• Honoring the legacy of Justin Hardy by offering scholarships to outstanding scholar-athletes.

The HardyStrong Foundation held its inaugural fundraising event in St. Charles, IL, titled Amazing Race: Stomach The Challenge, a tribute to Justin's love for the TV series The Amazing Race. This event combined mental and physical challenges, bringing together more than 550 attendees and 150 volunteers. Seventy-two teams competed in an Amazing Race-style event, where teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and a love for competition were put to the test. The event was a resounding success, celebrating Justin's legacy and raising support for the foundation's cause.

Justin's Story

Before his cancer diagnosis, Justin was well-admired for his competitiveness, relentlessness, positive spirit and ability to connect on a personal level with everyone he touched. Those traits were illustrated in his performance in both the classroom and on the basketball court at Washington University in St Louis and at St Charles East High School. Perhaps no moment publicly defined Justin better at that point in his life than his role in defeating the cross-town high-school rival not once - but twice - with a buzzer beater.

After Justin was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer in April 2021, he was able to elevate those traits to reach a broader audience, as his perspective on living with cancer was truly unique. He emphasized that the narrative was about how he was living, rather than how he was dying. In the greatest trial of his life - at his most vulnerable - Justin chose selflessness. He shared his story, his perspective, and his value with the world in the ESPN SportsCenter Feature, Mind Over Matter.

Justin's impact spread well beyond what could have been anticipated, but rightfully so. In Justin's final months, he was honored with the 2022 Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award and was recognized at the 2022 Dick Vitale Gala. Justin passed away at age 22 on May 29th, 2022, after courageously redefining what it meant to live with cancer. In those 13 months, Justin adopted the phrase "Mind Over Matter" to describe the way he lived his life. It represents the mental toughness that allowed him to see his cancer diagnosis as a catalyst for positivity, rather than despair. It represents the determination that Justin always had - but that the world finally got to see.