Bedding community joins Magowitz’s cancer crusade

It’s funny how bad weather doesn’t dampen your spirits when your soul is soaring. Bedding veteran Roger Magowitz recalled being stuck under a leaky tent in Phoenix a while back: “It was the coldest, nastiest, ugliest day I have seen in the 10 years I’ve lived in Arizona. But to me the sun was shining and I could not have been happier.”

He knew his late mother would be pleased with this gathering to raise money for pancreatic cancer research and awareness.

It rained on Roger’s party that day. He and Ray Bojanowski, owner of Metropolitan Mattress, were hosting the 2nd annual PanCAN Golf Tournament and Luncheon in Phoenix. More than 120 players signed up for the tournament, including executives with Simmons, Sealy, IBC, Leggett & Platt and Tempur-Pedic. Also supporting the tournament were Wesley Allen and Oak Street.

Most of those executives had traveled a long way to attend the event, Magowitz said. And, he ruefully admitted, he had promised it would be a “warm and sunny” day. But as the rain poured down, the president of Mattress Discounters, based in Virginia Beach, Va., exulted in the powerful spirit of community that was on display.

“The people that make up our industry played a huge part in the success of that event,” he said. “I cannot thank them enough for their generosity and support. As I reflect on the success of our event, I realize our world isn’t just about mattresses. Our mission needs to be giving back to our community. After all, everything I have is because of the mattress business.”

A family tragedy indelibly stamped the dangers of pancreatic cancer on his mind. His mother, Seena Magowitz, contracted the deadly cancer and lost her fight against it. Few, Magowitz soon learned, can win that fight; pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of any cancer. And funding for pancreatic cancer research is lagging.

That’s why Magowitz has taken on that type of cancer as his personal crusade. He is on a mission to raise money for research and, just as important, raise awareness.

There are some survivors, he noted. “We were fortunate and honored to have some (of those) survivors at our lunch and event,” he said.

The first tourney raised $50,000, the second $120,000. Next time, Magowitz hopes to raise $250,000 for the cause. “I hope that with the help of my friends,” he said, “my dream will become a reality.”

The 3rd Annual PanCAN Golf Tournament/Luncheon is set this year for Dec. 3 in Phoenix.

By the way, Magowitz promises a warm, sunny day.  (to view or add public comments click on "Add your Comment" below, or to email Dave directly click here.)