Become A Friend Today

Professional golfer. Cancer survivor. Research champion.

Throughout his life, Andy North has been many things. There have been good times and bad times, but throughout it all, there’s been one thing that’s remained the same: he could always count on his friends when he needed them. Because when friends team up, good things happen. 

It was in that spirit that he and his wife Susan founded the Andy North and Friends initiative in 2008 to support game-changing cancer research at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. Since then, our circle of Friends has grown exponentially, raising over 16 million dollars for research at UW Carbone. By attending one of our many events or making an online donation, you automatically become a Friend. And Andy can’t wait to have you join him.

Our Friends often join us for events and help us share the impact of world class research happening right here in Wisconsin. And we’re thinking big. Just as the UW Carbone Cancer Center is always focused on the innovations it will take to win the fight against cancer, we are committed to transforming the Andy North & Friends initiative into a national platform with big ideas. This evolution will create unique opportunities in Madison and around the country to showcase the impact of UW Carbone research. Our community has been the key to our success for well over a decade and we know that will not change.

Throughout the year, we will showcase the work of our star researchers in locations across the country. We’ll also be putting a new twist on Andy North and Friends in Madison, including a fun way to support cancer research at Trivia Night with Andy North. From Florida and New York on the east coast to Arizona and California on the west coast, we hope you’ll find an event – wherever you are – to join fellow Friends as we support cutting edge research right here at UW Carbone.

When we work together, we can defeat cancer once and for all.

About Andy

Two-time US Open champion Andy North had no choice but to hit the links. In the seventh grade, the future professional golfer wasn't particularly interested in the sport and instead opted to play football and basketball. When a knee injury forced him to give up contact sports, he turned to golf as an alternative and the game quickly became a passion and ultimately his life's work.

At the University of Florida, his play landed him All-American honors three times. After racking up amateur victories, the Wisconsin native turned professional in 1972 and embarked on a successful PGA career. He won the 1978 and 1985 U.S. Open Championships, one of only 16 men to win the event more than once. He also played on the 1978 World Cup and 1985 Ryder Cup teams.

However, during the spring of 1991 Andy missed nearly two months of tournaments on the PGA Tour but, more importantly, became part of a group that grows larger every day. More than 500,000 Americans develop skin cancer every year, and in 1991, Andy was among those counted. Andy had basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, but its least common subtype, morphea. Even though the doctor believes the tumor had grown for more than a year, it was invisible to the naked eye.

Five operations later the cancer had been cut out, and the doctor had removed most of his left nostril and left a hole on his face the size of a quarter. He considers himself one of the lucky ones.

Through golfing and commentating for ESPN, Andy continues to give of his time and talent to the world of golf and philanthropy around the globe.