'Dying to Serve’: Man diagnosed with terminal cancer is volunteering across all 50 states

A Texas man diagnosed with terminal cancer is turning his final months into a powerful mission of kindness. Doug Ruch, 55, has launched a nationwide volunteer tour across all 50 states, hoping to help as many people as possible while he still can.

After learning in 2025 that his prostate cancer had advance to stage 4, Ruch made a bold decision: rather than wait for the end, he would spend his remaining time giving back. Calling his journey the 'Dying to serve' tour, he's already traveled thousands of miles, volunteering at shelters, food pantries, and senior centres.

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Texas man with terminal cancer travels as a volunteer across America

When 55-year-old Doug Ruch from Texas was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021, he was determined to fight it. But after exhausting his life savings on medical treatments, he received heartbreaking news in January 2025 — the cancer had spread and advanced to stage 4.

His doctor presented two options: begin chemotherapy and possibly extend his life by two years, or forgo treatment and face a prognosis of 12 to 18 months.

“I told myself, I can either stay home and wait for the end, or go out and truly live,” Ruch said in an interview with KABC in Los Angeles. “I’ve always been a joyful person,” he shared on his GoFundMe page. “And not even knowing I’ll die earlier than most can take that away.”

Instead of surrendering to the diagnosis, Ruch turned it into motivation.

“My final wish is to help as many people as I can before my time runs out,” he wrote on his fundraising campaign.

That mindset led him to launch the “Dying to Serve” tour — a mission to travel to all 50 U.S. states, volunteering along the way.

“I can’t change the past, but I can move forward and bring help to as many as possible before I go,” Ruch told The Guardian.

To support his journey, he created a GoFundMe with an initial goal of $42,000. Once he gathered enough funds to start, he left his home in March, packed up his belongings into his 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, and set out on the road.

Ruch chronicles his journey on his website, highlighting the places he’s been and sharing details about upcoming volunteer stops at soup kitchens, shelters, food pantries, senior centers, and other nonprofits. So far, he’s raised over $52,000 to fund the trip.

“Sadly, due to our broken healthcare system, I’ve spent everything I had just to stay alive these past few years,” Ruch explained. “That’s why I’m asking for support. I know it’s a big ask — everyone has their own struggles — but I believe I can make a real difference with the time I have.”

'Dying to serve' as a nonprofit organization

Thanks to contributions, Ruch plans to register Dying to Serve as an official nonprofit, aiming to inspire others to volunteer long after he’s gone.

About a month into his journey, he had already 4,000 miles (ca. 6,437 km), sleeping in hotels and Airbnb's, trying to keep each stay under $100.

The cancer still affects his day-to-day life. He needs frequent breaks on the road and now limits himself to one volunteer shift every three days to manage fatigue, The Washington Post reported. Even so, he says he wakes up on those days “so happy,” like he was “shot out of a cannon.”

Ruch organizes his tour like a musician on the road, using platforms like JustServe and VolunteerMatch to find volunteer opportunities. As of mid-April, he had completed volunteer work in 13 states, with local supporters occasionally joining in.

In San Francisco, four people showed up to help after hearing his story. Ruch’s ultimate hope is that his journey sparks more kindness and action from others.

“My dying wish is simple,” he told The Guardian. “Help people — and inspire more people to help people.”

“If Dying to Serve can encourage thousands of people to volunteer each year,” he wrote on GoFundMe, “then my story will have a happy ending.”