March 21, 2019

Dear Mr. Trebek,

For several decades I have hurried to get the dinner dishes into the dishwasher so we
could gather as a family on the sofa to see who could answer the most questions correctly
on Jeopardy. Alex, you were a friend who came to our home every weekday.

We have another connection. In April of 2014 I too was diagnosed with Pancreas Cancer.
Two weeks later I underwent a 9.5 hour whipple surgery to remove the head of my
pancreas and a 3.5 cm adenocarcinoma that had grown around my mesenteric artery. I
had five lymph nodes that tested positive. I began my treatment and sailed along with a
new normal for almost 5 years! But, in August of 2018, they discovered the pancreas
cancer had come back, this time in my lungs. Today I have 11 tumors in my right lung
and a couple in my left lung. But, I’m bald and still fighting and in chemo now.

When I saw your announcement I was shocked and saddened. I didn’t want my longtime
friend to have to endure any of what I had gone thru. However, by the time you were
finished I was encouraged by your positive attitude.

I believe the only reason I have been able to beat the statistics of 9% who last five years
from diagnosis is my faith in God and my positive attitude.

After going through surgery, an infection hospitalizing me for 21 days and chemotherapy
and radiation, I figured I had better do something good with the time I had been graced
with.

My husband had a great idea! We built a home on the TPC Dye Valley Course Hole #1 in
1993. We have been avid golf fans ever since. Each year of the PLAYERS, we would
throw a party for our neighbors and around our newfound friend and neighbor Pro Golfer
Fred Funk.

When Fred won the 2005 Players he introduced us to a young man he had met who had
suffered a near fatal spinal cord injury on the football field during his senior year of high
school. Fred wanted to build JT’s family a wheelchair accessible home so they could all
live under one roof again. (Their home was to small for JT’s wheelchair and the family
had been separated for months.) We did build the home and set up a trust for JT. We
started to add a fund raising element to our crazy fun TPC parties.

I sat on the board that ran the Trust that funded the Townsend’s home and took care of all
expenses. We knew JT would someday want to work and would need to have a source of
income, so we started The JT Townsend Foundation to help other disabled people in
North Florida with financial assistance and adaptive equipment denied by insurance.
JT was the foundation president and delivered every piece of equipment counseling the
recipients with each delivery.
JT went on to graduate from the University of North Florida and had a bright future with
a job in marketing at his beloved Jacksonville Jaguars operation.

Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly just two months after graduating college. We were
devastated, but agreed to keep his legacy alive by continuing his good works thru the JT
Townsend Foundation.

Ten months later I was diagnosed with PC and the foundation, which had been run by JT
and me basically, came to a halt.

My husband Tom’s idea was to fund JTTF and find some research projects for early
detection of pancreas cancer thru an epic two-day gala/golf event at TPC Sawgrass
Stadium Course. His thought was to charge $25K per foursome. We worked again with
Fred Funk and formed the Funk-Zitiello Foundation, a 501c3 in 2016. Our mission is to
help pthers with seemingly impossible trials who have turned them into good. We call
our event Champions for Hope. (www.championsforhopegolf.com)

June 7th and 8th we will hold our third annual event. Once again at TPC Sawgrass.. We
have been blessed to be able to fund JTTF with $425K and a gift agreement to Mayo
Clinic for $900 collectively to fund three hand picked projects for early detection. And
we expect to raise even more funds this year to change lives and save lives. This is what
pushes me. (Well that and my 9 grandchildren, 4 born since my diagnosis. and all live
within 15 minutes.)

My oncologist and surgeon refer newly diagnosed pc patients to me to lend a listening

ear, and answer questions they might have dealing with the true emotional side of this
cancer. I have a journal with their names and I pray for them every day.

I completely believe I am here because of the prayer warriors, family and friends who
support me every day. I suspect you have a huge support system as well.

I work closely with the your network affiliate Channel 12 WTLV it’s General Manager
Rob Mennie, spreading the word about pancreas cancer symptoms and providing
statistics to help heighten the awareness of this beastly cancer.

Know that you are now in my journal and I will be praying for you every day and night. I
pray you will be graced with God’s favor and more time than the doctors might suggest.
Should you wish to speak with me personally at any time call my cell 904.806.0032.

Thank you for all you do for so many, Mr. Trebek. You are an amazing man.

God Bless,

Judi Zitiello
904.806.0032