Growing up, Travis was an all American boy and a friend to all who knew him. From a young age Travis was well received for his courteous and sincere personality which would leave a lasting impression on people he met. This ability to make friendships would come in handy in his youth as his father’s career in sales took the family to various parts of South Carolina. Eventually time would bring Travis and his brother, Giles, back to their native home in Charleston, where Travis’ bright future would begin.
In his teenage years, Travis grew a passion for the game of golf and he spent most of his free time at the golf course. He was on the Wando High School golf team and he worked as a cart attendant at the Patriots Point Golf Links. Travis’ charismatic spirit won him friends in the close knit golf community. These relationships shaped his future through connections and opportunities leading to his enrollment in the College of Charleston. It was at the College, that Travis would make a very important connection, the love of his life Carrie. Their love for each other would grow and by spring of 2001 they were engaged. Family life was just getting started for Travis and Carrie with a wedding a few months away.
Life came to a sudden stand still, two weeks before Travis’ 25th birthday, in 2002, when he would receive the shocking news that he had stage four cancer. He was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and was told he'd need radiation and chemotherapy treatment for several months. The news fell heavy on the hearts of Travis and all who knew him but through it all Travis would showcase his true loving spirit. In the midst of intense cancer treatment he would find the strength to unite in marriage with Carrie. Several months following the wedding, a gift from God came when the newlyweds found out the treatment was successful! Travis was cancer free and life would never seem the same.
Travis and Carrie continued on with their lives and would soon welcome their first son, Parker. Travis advanced his career with the Bobcat Company in 2005 and would accept a position as a District Sales Manager that would move him and his family from Charlotte to Louisiana. He was thrilled and on top of that he found out that they were expecting a second son, Tyler. These joyful days were cut short, however, as the young family received devastating news that Travis’ cancer had returned.
In 2005 Travis was diagnosed with hemangiopericytoma, an extremely rare form of sarcoma cancer, and a different type than he originally had. Travis knew a difficult road was ahead as he underwent countless surgeries and radiation treatments over a 5 year period. He flew around the country to receive care from the leading sarcoma treatment facilities. Despite his efforts to find a facility with effective treatment, Travis was unable to find the miracle cure he needed. In his final days Travis would share his ideas on a fundraising event. It was simply a vision laid out on a napkin one evening with his brother. Travis’ vision of a charity fundraiser was never realized as Travis passed in June 2010, just shortly after his 33rd birthday.
So a sad story seems to end, Travis Branch passing at such a young age, being stricken by cancer without viable treatment available. However, the story does not end there. Out of Travis’ life new hope has risen and progress is being made. Progress for a cure to give others a fighting chance against sarcoma. Swing for a Cure is this hope and it offers a platform for cancer survivors, friends, and families coping with the adversity of cancer by joining the cause. It is the spirit of these people that support this event that make it successful. Travis was passionate about people and he loved the game of golf. He would be very pleased to see a golf event with people from all over the country coming together to help others for the sake of cancer research. He would be proud indeed to support the team at Hollings Cancer Center working daily to find that miracle cure that will save lives.
