As we close out March, Royal American Companies is proud to announce our 2026 Charity of the Year: The University of Florida’s Donald L. Roland Fund for Cancer Research. The fundraising efforts we undertake this year, through our employee led events committee initiatives, will direct funds toward this important work. The Donald L. Roland Fund supports critical research aimed at advancing our understanding of colorectal cancer (CRC) and improving outcomes for the patients and families navigating it every day.
Choosing this charity was an easy decision — it came straight from the heart of our Royal American family. Many of you know Jim Boyd, Vice President of Development & General Counsel. He has given so much to this company over the years, and when we learned about his ongoing battle with CRC, we knew exactly where we wanted to focus our fundraising efforts in 2026. In a recent conversation with us, Jim spoke candidly about how early screening provided him with the most precious commodity of all: time. His experience underscores a rising trend – the increasing diagnosis of CRC in younger adults – which is why our support of the Donald L. Roland Fund is so timely. We hope his words move you the way they moved us and encourages you to remain proactive about your own health.
Awareness: Health conversations can often feel private. How can sharing your journey with CRC be helpful for others?
CRC is the fastest growing cancer in the world and the leading cause of cancer death for ages 50 and below. That’s the bad news. The good news, if CRC is caught early enough, the survival rate is high. You are your own best judge of how your body is feeling – if there are consistent abdominal issues; changes in bowel habits; unexplained weight loss; family history of cancer; etc. – be proactive. Unfortunately, in the end, you must be the biggest advocate for your own health. Regarding my own journey, while I didn’t have a family history of CRC, due to a history of abdominal issue, I was having colonoscopies ever two years. I’m alive today because I caught it early enough to treat.
Prevention: Colorectal Cancer—along with conditions like Crohn’s and Colitis—is increasingly affecting younger generations, making early screening and our 2026 commitment to the Donald L. Rowland Fund for Cancer Research more critical than ever. Share your thoughts about the importance of getting your first screening.
Until recently, colonoscopy was the only way to test for CRC. However, some recent improvements in CRC screening – especially the new blood tests – are making it easier and less intrusive to detect CRC. In addition, the blood test allows for the earliest detection of a reoccurrence. In fact, the blood test caught my reoccurrence sooner than other tests allowing treatment for the reoccurrence to start earlier. The research being done today is going to allow for an earlier diagnosis which will lead to a higher survival rate.
Advice: Is there any advice you want to offer those going through a difficult medical diagnosis?
When you wake up in a private colonoscopy recovery room with the doctor explaining the cancerous tumor he found in your colon, there is an immediate mental shock. But what I’ve learned over the last 20 months is that while I will probably die from CRC (or get hit by a bus this afternoon); I’m not going to let cancer define who I am or limit the appreciation I have for my life. Life doesn’t end with a difficult medical diagnosis. While I have always enjoyed my life (some would say to excess); I appreciate my life more than ever before. The time I spend now with family and friends means more to me than anything else.
Any advice on empowering others to start taking the first steps towards prevention and better health?
The best guess for the rise of CRC is constant inflammation of your digestive track from environmental issues – whether its preservatives in your food, micro plastics in everything we ingest, or combinations thereof – something is leading to the explosion in CRC. Especially in younger age bands. It’s probably redundant, but the best medicine to prevent CRC is a healthy lifestyle – lean protein, fruits & vegetables, sufficient fiber, exercise, and the elimination of processed foods from your diet. It’s easy to say but it’s a lot harder to execute. But a commitment to a healthier lifestyle not only helps prevents CRC it also provides you the strength to survive CRC treatments – surgery, chemo, etc.
Thank you, Jim, for your honesty and courage in sharing your story. We hope his words inspire you to join us in these efforts. More opportunities to give and get involved will be shared throughout the year.
