In 2000, a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma left 26-year-old Vince Todd, Jr. reeling. His new wife, Cindy Todd, was just as blindsided. As Vince visited doctors and hospitals for treatment, the young couple leaned on friends and family to help.

During his months of chemotherapy, Vince started reading Lance Armstrong’s It’s Not About the Bike, much of which covers his fight with advanced testicular cancer. Vince was inspired. He and Cindy believed that they were facing this battle for a reason. Part of the reason was to make an impact on the cancer community in Indiana.

The Todds received the news that Vince’s cancer was gone on Jan. 11, 2001. With a clean bill of health and new sense of purpose, they rallied friends and family. Together, they launched the Heroes Foundation, officially taking its name in May 2001 as a registered 501(c)(3) public charity.