#16 – Forward/Defence
Dan Smith has faced the kind of challenges that would bring most people to their knees — yet he continues to meet each day with strength, grace, and an unwavering will to keep moving forward. In November 2023, Dan was diagnosed with abdominal neuroendocrine cancer. He underwent major surgery in February 2024 to remove tumors, only to learn afterward that the cancer had spread to areas that made it inoperable. Today, Dan continues his fight with monthly treatments, managing his cancer with determination and resilience.
But life had even more to test him with.
In April 2025, Dan’s wife, Tammy — who has never smoked and lived a life free of harmful habits — was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Her cancer is inoperable as well, yet she continues to respond with remarkable strength to monthly chemotherapy and daily Tagrisso treatments.
Together, Dan and Tammy are walking a road no family ever expects to face — two cancer battles, side by side. And yet, they continue to show what love, courage, and partnership truly look like. They fight for each other. They lift each other up. They refuse to let these diagnoses define the joy, hope, and purpose in their lives.
Today, Dan steps onto the ice in the DAWG Nation Survivor Game not just as a survivor, but as a symbol of perseverance — a reminder that even in the darkest chapters, the human spirit can shine with extraordinary light. His story is one of love, resilience, and the power of standing strong for the people who matter most.