Bringing Hope Home: Fox Family
By Steve and Nancy Fox
Courtesy of El Paso Inc.
Nancy, Steve, Ashley and Paige Fox
The scariest three words you may ever hear are “You have cancer.”
That was the harsh realization our family had when Steve was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue and neck cancer 22 years ago.
As you process the fear and shock of the situation, you come to understand this disease affects the entire family.
We were blessed to have the means for Steve to travel to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for the best treatment options. But for a family with children, day-to-day life couldn’t be put on pause while Steve was in Houston for weeks of treatment. We hoped to face the challenge together, but circumstances meant we had to part from time to time.
On the weeks that Nancy remained in El Paso with our then-teenage girls, Paige and Ashley, she did her best to maintain a normal routine by taking them to school and other extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, Steve had to kiss them goodbye and promise to return.
Thanks to life-saving treatment, we’re proud to say Steve kept that promise. And we made a new promise: To help bring world-class cancer care to our Borderplex community, so other families wouldn’t have to bear the burden of travel and separation for treatment.
When Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso opened 10 years ago, it changed the landscape of health care here on the U.S.-Mexico border. We knew the opportunity to close a huge disparity gap in cancer care was coming.
This year, the Texas Legislature designated funding in the 2024-2025 state budget for a comprehensive cancer center in the heart of El Paso. It will consolidate cancer imaging, treatment, research and clinical trials, and preventive outreach programs under one umbrella.
We are pleased to announce we’ve made a personal investment in the future cancer center for the benefit of all residents in West Texas and rural communities. Our gift will help ensure families won’t have to leave their loved ones to secure the best cancer treatment.
When you’re fighting for your life, it’s emotionally draining, and all you want is to be with your family and friends. Seeing them, talking to them and holding them can give you strength you never knew you had. That’s what we want for our neighbors throughout El Paso and beyond.
In addition, the new cancer center will create numerous opportunities for our Borderplex residents to participate in potentially life-saving research and clinical trials. El Paso is a Hispanic-majority community; however, Hispanics make up less than 4% of those who participate in trials. That’s a tragedy when you consider cancer is a leading cause of death among the Hispanic population.
Let’s change that together, El Paso!
We have been blessed by this community, which has been loyal to us and our businesses. We hope you’ll welcome the new Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center at Texas Tech El Paso with that renowned hospitality.
Together we can support the new cancer center through donations, research and clinical trials participation, and, of course, emotional support for the men, women and children who’ll seek treatment there.
Don’t forget the doctors, nurses and researchers who’ll be part of this team working to advance treatments and, hopefully, one day find a cure for cancer.
You don’t have to be wealthy to be generous. Every donation is a gift that offers encouragement to our community's cancer warriors and their families
And to those who are battling cancer now, or who may face it one day: Don’t lose hope. Remember, most cancers are curable with the right treatment.
Keep fighting.
Hope is coming home.
Hope begins HERE.
Steve and Nancy Fox are longtime El Paso residents who have contributed to our Borderplex for decades through the Fox Family Foundation and the Fox Auto Team.
Read: Steve and Nancy Fox and Family Announce Historic $25 Million Gift to TTUHSC El Paso