A Family of Wavemakers: The Doerges

Rarely does an entire family make an impact large enough to garner national attention, but the Doerge family has done just that. Everyone from Kate and Chad (the parents) Henry, Penny, and Frankie (the kids) to the dogs Bo, Winnie, and Clover have made waves. Although the entire family has been doing amazing work their entire lives, today I am going to focus on the creation and influence of the Penny’s Flight Foundation.

PFF Instagram

Its story starts with the birth of Penny Griggs Doerge on June 29, 2006. One night when she was still young she fell off of her parents bed and was rushed to the hospital, and there it was discovered that she had congenital pseudarthrosis. Congenital pseudarthrosis is a disorder that causes a joint to form in the tibia and prevents it from ever healing properly, and was the first marker of Neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1). NF-1 is a disorder characterized by changes in skin pigmentation and the growth of tumors on nerve pathways. Although these disorders have long and confusing names and you would think they have been deeply studied, the reality is quite the opposite. Approximately 1 in 3,600 babies are born with NF1 which makes the disease very rare, but a cure has yet to be found. 

Over the course of her 16 short years, Penny had 12 surgeries to correct her leg and 7 brain surgeries, to most families this would induce sorrow, but in the words of Kate, “We’re just going to get it out and keep moving on.” That quote defines the entirety of Penny’s life. 

The families close to the Doerges, far and wide, all got some sad news during the start of November in 2022. We were told that Penny’s brain tumors had reached a climax and it would be best to let her live out the remainder of her life in the company of friends and family. For the next 10 days everyone was at their house all day in what we called the Love Cocoon. I remember rushing over to the Doerge’s right after school everyday that week. Rather than a solemn mood, everyone was sitting around talking, listening to music, and celebrating her beautiful life, in real time, with her. Eventually she passed on the beautiful, sunny November 10, 2022. Chad and Kate decided to maintain the happy mood during Penny’s service when all 1200 guests were forbidden from wearing black. Everyone was telling stories, listening to music, and celebrating her life rather than mourning her death. After the Doerges saw just how supportive their community was at the celebration of Penny’s life they came together, and announced the creation of the Penny’s Flight Foundation, or PFF, on the Monday after the celebration.

Specifically, Kate and Chad stress the importance of a widespread community; they believe that expanding your community is the most important aspect of making an impact. Most people want to help, it makes them feel good, and, although it might seem daunting to ask an entire community for help, it is an easy way to spread your message. If you drive around our town you are almost guaranteed to see the pink and purple bumper stickers labeled “PD.” One of the easiest ways to expand your community, according to Kate, is to use social media. PFF utilized social media by adding PFF chapters to boarding schools and colleges around the country. Most of the chapters were started by Penny’s close friends, but numerous random individuals from around the country reached out to Kate through social media to start chapters. Schools like the University of Virginia, Wake Forest, and Georgetown have all adopted a PFF chapter and actively spread the message. If your school is interested in starting a PFF chapter you can easily fill out this google form here:

Submission Form

It would be quite difficult to start a revolution, as the Doerges have, but using your community and social media as a springboard for your message can make it a lot easier. People naturally want to help others, and using that to get people behind your message is a very useful tool. Although it might seem daunting, it is easier than ever to quickly and effectively spread your message through social media and widespread communities. Kate often mentions how posting one TikTok or Instagram is enough to gather national attention for your cause, and the more people that know about your message, the easier it is to make change. From the wise words of Frankie Doerge, “It’s not about your lifespan, it's about your wingspan.”