The Scott S. Craun Foundation was founded by Scott Craun before he passed away in 2011 from Multiple Myeloma, a rare blood cell cancer at the young age of 36.

Scott’s mission was to provide round-trip airfare to myeloma patients who seek oncologist-recommended treatment. As a health care provider and a cancer patient, that mission was given a laser focus on a specific population near and dear to his heart: the fewer than 400 myeloma patients in Hawaii whose nearest support groups are in California. Like Scott, these patients are told, “You have an ‘incurable cancer.’ Eventually, you will have to take a break from your work and the most specialized treatment centers are 2500 miles away.”

Stem cell transplant, for example, can be a key to prolonging life—sometimes by years—as it was for Scott. Twice Scott experienced the hardships of this relocation for transplant. Scott had many of us to help him through this burden and he was eternally grateful while many other patients are not nearly as networked. Scott became acutely aware of their immediate need. He left behind documents outlining a non-profit based on incremental goals and longevity as priorities over huge sums of money. For us, ultimate success means being able to provide at least one annual flight for the patients of the Foundation, even when Hawaii is capable of all specialized myeloma patient technology. Or, even better, when Multiple Myeloma is no longer deemed “incurable.”

Scott’s selflessness and generosity was apparent to everyone who met him, which is why it was no surprise when over 30 people were present in his room the day he passed.