Payton and Chris Crawford
“My dad had his ‘craw-isms’. One of the most important is determination. He was very determined. Determined with his family, his friendships, and his work relationships, and he was determined to fight cancer…It was non-negotiable. He showed up for my brother and me in so many ways, telling us through his actions that, ‘my relationship with you and my time with you is non-negotiable’. I loved that.”
Payton Crawford lost her father, Chris when she was 23 years old.
I first met Payton when we were both interning for the University of Oregon Football team during college. We spent Saturdays in the fall at the football facilities entertaining high school recruits and providing scouting reports to coaches. After I graduated, I stayed in touch with Payton mostly over social media, following along with the typical life updates that came and went. One day, scrolling through my Instagram feed, a post jumped off my phone screen and my stomach dropped. Payton had begun sharing updates about her dad’s recent cancer diagnosis and her family’s journey.
Unfortunately, I was all too familiar with the feelings and uncertainty that came with it. Over the next couple of years, I followed along with updates, seeing a lot of similarities and experiences that my family had had 20 years prior. One afternoon, I saw Payton's post sharing that her father had passed away and that instead of receiving flowers, her family requested that friends and family consider making a donation to a charity that was working to cure rare blood cancer. That next week, I recall seeing the donations growing and the community rallying around the Crawfords.
What I did not know at the time, was that the platform Payton was building would eventually inspire my own. Fast forward a few years, and as I launched the Lost Parent Project, Payton was on my short list of friends that I wanted to talk to. She is a perfect example of someone who has chosen to find a positive spin on a terrible circumstance and launch a platform for others to do the same. Our missions’ are parallel, and I couldn't wait to talk with her about her experience.
When I asked her to describe Chris to me, Payton immediately smiled and told me “in every room he walked into, he gave off this presence of ‘I'm welcoming you in’, he had a really unique way of making everyone feel like they were the luckiest person alive. And I always thought that was so cool. And I think the older I get, I reminisce, I remember those moments even more now.
Chris Crawford had accomplishments just about everywhere you looked. He was a father of two, a successful businessman who spent most of his career assisting with the growth of Nike, a two-time conference champion Quarterback at Portland State University. A hard worker, a determined, persevering role model to just about everyone he crossed paths with.
Chris was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). He attacked treatment like he attacked life, with determination and strength. A lifelong athlete naturally found ways to compete against himself during these long weeks at the hospital. He would ask the nurses to keep track of how many laps he could walk around his floor before they told him he needed rest, always trying to beat his own numbers from the day before. His friends and family quickly caught onto these competitions, and would occasionally erase some tally marks, leaving Chris with even more competition against himself when he could have sworn he had completed double the laps than what showed on the scorecard. Nonetheless, he would press on. A phrase that became synonymous with his fight against cancer, one that not only he leaned on but his team did. Press On. During this time, Payton’s older brother Carson was playing football at UC Davis. Chris had never missed one of his son’s games to date, and that wasn’t going to change because of a sickness. It was nonnegotiable, and he made it to every game that season, both home and away. Chris continued to fight after that football season, but unfortunately passed away later that year.
Grief, as I have come to understand through my own experience, takes many shapes and forms. Payton dove headfirst into action in the days following Chris’ passing. As mentioned above, she was determined to fundraise for cancer research. “It’s what Dad would have wanted” she knew. Payton raised over $50,000 in a week and quickly realized that she had a calling to build a new type of cancer-fighting community. One based on awareness, love, support, and of course that same press on determination that Chris lived out.
And so the Press On 6 Foundation was born. Long before it was a nonprofit organization, it was a daughter honoring her father’s life, of pushing through life’s unfair obstacles with determination and resilience. Today, the Press On 6 Foundation (PO6) honors Chris's spirit by providing support, community, and belonging to those affected by blood cancer. PO6 is a proud partner with Be the Match (BTM), a global leader in bone marrow transplantation that connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving transplant. Together, they bring awareness by educating the community on the importance of joining the registry and fundraising to deliver a cure for blood cancer patients. Along with their partnership, the foundation provides community groups, events, a charity golf tournament, and the hugs from afar program. Hugs from afar provides a personalized care package that is dedicated to bringing joy, comfort, and reminders that no one in our community is alone. “Whether you're navigating a cancer diagnosis, seeking to support a loved one, or simply looking to make a positive impact, Hugs From Afar is here for you.” Next up for PO6 is the launch of the Heart to Heart Project, which is a storytelling program that provides patients, loved ones, and donors with a safe space to share their experiences. Through interviews and personal stories, the team aims to inspire, educate, and empower others who may be going through a similar journey. Founded on the belief that one is diagnosed, but many are impacted.
It is important to remember that Payton balances a full time marketing career with growing P06. I asked her what the future may look like for her, and she told me that she hopes to one day transition full time to PO6. I have no doubt it will happen.
When I asked Payton what advice she would give to someone who was navigating the loss of a parent: “I would tell them to be patient with themself. There is no rulebook and there is no playbook that tells you how to navigate it. There are times too, where I feel like I get hit out of nowhere, like listening to a song that reminds me of him. Grief can show up in different ways, everything from grieving a past self, to grieving a past relationship or a friendship. I think there's grief in different ways that have shown up in my life. And I never thought that I experienced “grief” prior to losing my dad. But I started understanding that it shows up in these different ways throughout life.”
She also shared how important finding community is during grief when you are ready. A critical part of her healing journey has been finding people who support her. Every year, on the anniversary of Chris’ passing, she takes a trip with the same group of friends. She explained to me how only one of these friends knew Chris personally, but all of them have grown to know him through stories, memories, and most importantly through supporting their friend.
I asked if there are any traditions that she carries on in her dad’s memory. She told me about the pizza Friday tradition that was born between “the three amigos”, a self-appointed nickname for the trio of Payton, her brother Carson, and their dad. The three amigos would get pizza together on Fridays, usually after a sporting event. Pizza Friday lives on, now being celebrated in Austin, TX where Payton lives. She told me how excited she is to continue the tradition with her own family one day.
I continue to find inspiration in the foundation that Payton has grown and the direction that it is headed in. It was a pivotal realization that I too could bring my experience to the world and it gave me the confidence that my story was worth sharing, and that it could inspire someone else to share theirs. I cannot thank Payton enough for our conversations, and support over the years. I’m excited to partner with PO6 in the future and see where Payton takes it.
The world can be changed by a kid who lost their dad and wants to tell their story. We are both proof.
For more information on P06, check it out here: www.presson6.org
