Nancy McDaniel was back in the hospital in July, fighting cancer for the second time. She realized she had to start moving again. It began with a quick walk down the hallway.
McDaniel said, “Anyone who comes to visit me, you must walk me,” the longtime Cal Women’s Golf Coach, laughing.
Friends would walk with her at home in the mornings, noons and evenings to the end and around the block. Walking helped her physically but the relationship was more important.
This healing link has been amplified throughout the country through a fundraiser organised by Anne Walker, a former player of McDaniel and the current head coach of Stanford.
Play for Her, a campaign tied to the Stanford Intercollegiate this week, has so far raised over $150,000 towards breast cancer research. The Oct. 20-22 tournament is one of the oldest in college golf. Dr. Condoleezza rice, who lost her mother Angelena to breast cancer, hosts the event.
McDaniel wept when Walker asked if the event could be dedicated to her. The funds will be donated directly to McDaniel’s oncologist Dr. Hope Rugo and her research in the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Walker said, “We have 120 females in the field.” “Statistically one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Do the math – 15 of the kids on the field will battle breast cancer during their lifetime. If we educate and make them aware, perhaps a few more of the 15 will have better outcomes due to earlier intervention.”
McDaniel, who was first diagnosed with breast carcinoma in 2015, gave her doctor a high five last June when she announced that she had been cancer-free. She found out that the cancer was back in her stomach a few weeks later.
Nancy McDaniel plays golf with her kids Tyler and Molly (26). (courtesy photo)
McDaniel is a 56 year old mother of two who started chemotherapy in August. She also took a leave from coaching. She is scheduled to return to her job on November 1.
Katie Mitchell is helping out at tournaments while Beverly Terry, the associate coach, takes over. Jay, her husband and head professional at Claremont Country Club also acts as a volunteer.
Terry, who is now in her 9th season with the Bears, was described by McDaniel as “a poster coach of compassion”.
Coach Nancy McDaniel, who is now in her 41st coaching year, played college golf for Mary Lou Mulflur at Washington. (courtesy Washington Athletics)
McDaniel, who was part of Washington’s first recruit class under Mary Lou Mulflur in the mid-1980s and earned All-American status before joining the Cal staff in 1994, competed on professional tours all over the world.
Mulflur donated a large check to the Play for Her Campaign.
McDaniel does not want her players, or her 24-year old daughter, Molly to be worried about breast cancer. She also wants her players to be aware of the importance in being their own advocate on their health journey. They should be aware of toxins found in food, cleaning products and what they use on their body. To stay on top of self-testing and screenings.
McDaniel hopes that the next generation will understand the importance of breast cancer awareness and other issues.
She says, “This is a brave thing to do and it’s your chance to make a difference.”
Anna Temple, Washington’s assistant coach, chose to play at Cal for McDaniel because she wanted improve. She knew McDaniel’s environment would be challenging, and she appreciated that even more after she returned to Cal as an assistant to McDaniel.
Temple, who now works alongside Mulflur in Washington, can see where many of the things that have been passed on to her began. The relationship continues through generations.
Stanford University is a place where all generations work together to achieve a goal that goes beyond the scorecard.
Temple said that golf is a community with a tight-knit feel. It’s not surprising that Anne uses this event to further a cause that is bigger than us all.
