Donor Stories

Marge Bunkers was a University of Colorado employee for 12 years and has been a loyal supporter of the Ludeman Center since 2010. After she lost her daughter Joyce (pictured below) to ischemia from a cardiac event in 2009, she decided to seek out ways of supporting cardiovascular research in women. She was impressed by the Ludeman Center, she says, because “it asks the questions nobody else is asking.”

How did you get involved with the Ludeman Center?

After Joyce passed away, I was looking for a way to honor her memory. I came across a newspaper article about Judy [Regensteiner] and the Ludeman Center. So I called Judy and asked to come talk with her. We had a wonderful discussion about the Ludeman Center and its goals. I thought there was no better way to honor Joyce’s memory than to start supporting the Ludeman Center.

The work you do is incredibly important. What drew you to the Ludeman Center's work, specifically?

Nobody asked Joyce the right questions when she went to the doctor for regular checkups. Because of that, they missed something that they otherwise might have found. The Ludeman Center asks the right questions—the questions nobody else is asking. That’s very important to me. I don’t think it helps anybody to say, ‘Okay, we found the answer. We’re done now.’ You have to continue to ask questions. When you start assuming you know everything, you set yourself up to be blindsided.

What do you hope for the future of the Ludeman Center?

I really hope you keep doing the important work you’re doing. I hope you never stop asking questions and seeking better answers. It’s hard work, but so many people will benefit from the effort.