kenan derson's "My Foot Left" 60th Birthday Fundraiser

My late husband, Ken Anderson (SAG/AFRA name kenan derson) would have turned 60 on September 21, 2025. By the time we met in early 2001, he’d been a three-time cancer survivor. First discovered in his foot as a teen, he had his left leg amputated below the knee when he was 15.

Ken wrote and performed a one-man show (also one-footed…he would have loved that joke) about his journey with cancer. Along with many friends, we put on the show at WNEP Theater in Lakeview for four Sundays in August 2002. Our friend, Bruce, a talented videographer, did us a great honor by recording one of the performances.

I’ll be sharing the show online for the first time to celebrate his birthday and his story as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society because his story still has work to do.

When I so easily fell in love with Ken 2001, we shared many adventures together until his death in 2011. Please join me on this adventure to fight back against cancer.

How can you watch the YouTube premiere?

A donation of any amount made to the American Cancer Society here (Facebook Fundraiser is here) will get you a link to the premiere on YouTube on September 21 at 6 pm (Central). I’ll be on live as well, sharing some behind-the-scenes tidbits, remembrances, and just enjoying the show.

If you aren’t able to watch live, don’t worry! The video will be available for a limited time after the premiere.

Promos for the Show

“Despite his disability, Derson says he has never been deterred from particpating fully in life.”

Best Foot Forward – The Chicago Sun-Times Download

“Don’t stop. Don’t let anything stop you. Don’t let anybody say you need to be normal, you’re going to be normal. Don’t listen to that because you’re not going to be normal. You’re not going to do things like everybody else. You’re going to do them just a little bit different and to revel in that difference,” said Kenan.

ABC 7 Chicago Download