On the Record: Ray Ruby leads nonprofit that aims to reduce cancer’s impact in Maine

Photo / Jim Neuger Ray Ruby is executive director of Maine Cancer Foundation, whose Tri for a Cure fundraiser takes place in South Portland every summer.

Write a Comment

By Renee Cordes

Ray Ruby is the executive director of Maine Cancer Foundation, a Falmouth-based nonprofit whose biggest fundraiser is the annual Tri for a Cure triathlon in South Portland every July. Mainebiz caught up with the outdoor enthusiast and former police officer who’s worked in nonprofits for more than a decade.

Mainebiz: What prompted your path from police work to the nonprofit world?

Ray Ruby: I spent most of my seven years at the Portland Police Department covering parts of the peninsula. There were a number of nonprofits providing services to this part of the city, and I couldn’t help but drift toward them during any downtime. As a city cop, you spend the majority of your day responding to calls and reacting to situations. I was drawn to these organizations and their proactive efforts, which I believed were having a bigger impact than I was in uniform.

MB: What led you to the Maine Cancer Foundation in February 2018, and what can you share about your first role there?

RR: Over the years and the more I traveled around Maine hiking and camping with my family, I gained a deeper appreciation for the towns and cities where we spent time. When I saw that Maine Cancer Foundation was looking for someone to be an ambassador for their incredible statewide work, they would’ve had to lock the doors to keep me out. In that first year, I did not just visit all 16 counties, I spent time getting to know the towns that fill them out, the businesses that drive their growth, and the people that make them special. Since then, I have been back many times over, and the only difference is that I bring a suit jacket with my tent now.

MB: What’s the mission of the Maine Cancer Foundation and what makes it unique?

RR: Maine Cancer Foundation is dedicated to reducing the impact of cancer in Maine. We lead a statewide effort to support the most promising and effective cancer-fighting programs available. Maine Cancer Foundation gets behind people and organizations and helps give them a push. Good work gets done when we build the right relationships. By understanding these communities on a deeper level, we can maximize the impact of every dollar we raise.

MB: What specifics can you share about where the money Maine Cancer Foundation raises goes?

RR: Maine Cancer Foundation has invested over $16 million throughout Maine in the last eight years alone. To be exact, that is 294 grants to 100 organizations. The three major focus areas of our work are cancer prevention, cancer detection and improving patient outcomes. For example, in 2022 we partnered with the John T. Gorman Foundation and awarded $486,000 in transportation and lodging for organizations to support individuals with cancer in all 16 counties [ground and air transportation]. These were funds for volunteer drivers, gas reimbursement, gas cards, volunteer pilots, commercial flights, public transportation reimbursement, agency drivers and taxi services. Some grants also included free lodging and meals for out-of-state travel for treatment of rare cancers.

MB: What’s the state of cancer prevention in Maine?

RR: Maine has some of the highest cancer rates in the country, and the highest in New England. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Maine, not heart disease which on average ranks No. 1 nationally. I think we sometimes forget the barriers that some folks have in our beautiful but large state. Maine Cancer Foundation believes that every Mainer deserves access to the best possible care, regardless of income or geography.

MB: How can individuals or businesses be part of Tri for a Cure if they’re not triathletes?

RR: Tri for a Cure’s sponsors keep the event strong by underwriting the expenses. When your business covers the cost of renting tents or safety fencing or buying food and water, or printing signs and race T-shirts, 100% of the money raised by our athletes goes toward fighting cancer where it is needed the most in Maine. If anyone is interested in becoming a partner of the event, please contact me at ray@mainecancer.org or give me a call at 207-773-2533.