Former Rangers star Ron Duguay never wore the ‘C’ in New York, but he’s getting plenty of Vitamin C now.
Duguay, who revealed last month that he is battling Stage 4 colon cancer, shared an update on his health earlier this week.
The 68-year-old detailed part of his “upgraded” treatment plan in a video posted to his Instagram Story. Duguay’s family had started a GoFundMe page in order help with the prohibitive costs of the former NHLer’s healthcare.
As part of his treatment, Duguay said he is receiving large doses of Vitamin C.
“Most of you are aware of the benefits of Vitamin C. Most people may take a gram a day, maybe two,” Duguay said, showing his arm hooked up to an IV in a doctor’s office.
“I’m doing as much as 75 grams. I’ve been doing 50. My body has been tolerating it. So now I’m moving it up to 75. I’m going to get to the bottom of this. Get stronger. Build up my immune system so I can get out of here. I want to see the finish line! Let’s go!”
Duguay played nearly 500 games of his NHL career for the Rangers and later became an analyst on the team for MSG Network. He has been dating former Alaska governor and U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin for several years.
Why did the family start a GoFundMe?
Duguay had been diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2024, but kept it private until recently, when his family asked for help by launching a GoFundMe.
Shay Thomas, one of Duguay’s daughters, told Us Weekly that convincing her father to seek outside help was “a fight for many months.”
“His credit card debt was going up and that’s when I told him, ‘Dad, just let me do this. I’m not going to put your name on there. Just let me do this. So many people have asked to help you. You need the help. You’ve helped people. Let them help,’” Thomas told the outlet.
“We spoke as a family and we said, ‘We need to make this GoFundMe. We gotta do everything we can. Because if we don’t, it’s going to kill you.’”
She added that Duguay “had nothing left” when the family launched the fundraiser, which has raised more $120,000 US as of Wednesday.
There had been some backlash to the former NHLer-turned-analyst asking for charity, with Thomas responding that the family was not as well off as many thought.
“I see so many things where people are like, ‘He has millions of dollars from back in the day. I’m like, ‘What are we talking about?’” she said.
How has Sarah Palin supported the family?
Thomas also commented on Palin’s support for Duguay, revealing that she has been a “huge source of support” for the entire family.
“She’s been involved and incredibly supportive in my dad’s entire journey,” Thomas said. “Their relationship can obviously be challenging because they live long distance. She’s in Alaska, he’s in Florida. But they have always remained close.
“If we ever need her for something, she would take a red eye flight on short notice. If we have stuff with our kids and couldn’t make it — for example, my dad had a surgery where they went into his colon and liver — and she stayed with him in the hospital for five days.
“She’s been a huge source of support. Not only for my dad, but for our entire family.”
How was Duguay’s NHL career?
The 68-year-old Sudbury native is considered a Rangers great, having helped the team reach the 1979 Stanley Cup final. He scored 274 goals and recorded 346 assists for 620 points in his 864 total NHL games, also having suited up for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins. He made the 1982 All-Star Game as a member of the Rangers, when he notched 76 points in 72 games.