The Hospital Valet Who Became a Lifeline for Cancer Patients

Every time Kate Fink arrived at Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, there was a good chance she’d run into a man named Jon Avery. He worked outside the main entrance, greeting patients and taking their cars while they went inside for treatment.

Kate was battling breast cancer, and those hospital visits had become a regular part of her life. But Jon always seemed happy to see her, greeting her with a big smile and a few words of encouragement.

He kept telling her she was going to get through it. Eventually, Kate started believing him.

The Man Who Greeted Everyone With a Smile

Jon works as a valet at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the country’s major cancer treatment hospitals. His job involves helping patients out of their vehicles, collecting their keys, and making sure their cars are parked safely.

But he has his own way of approaching the work. He knows many of the people arriving at the hospital are worried about their health, and he tries to make their visit a little easier from the moment they pull up.

He greets patients warmly, remembers familiar faces, and offers encouragement whenever he gets the chance. Sometimes it’s a smile or a quick conversation. Other times, he calls someone “Champ” and tells them they’ve got this.

Jon has been doing it for years. Patients who return regularly have come to recognize him, and some have grown particularly fond of the man waiting outside in his Buffalo Bills hat.

When CBS correspondent Steve Hartman asked Jon about his approach to the job, he explained that he wanted his interactions with people to be meaningful. He didn’t want them to feel like empty exchanges between strangers.

Kate Started Believing His Encouragement

Kate was 41 when she spoke with CBS News in October 2026. By then, she’d survived breast cancer, but she still remembered the support Jon had given her throughout her treatment.

Every time she arrived, he encouraged her to keep going. He’d tell her, “You got this,” with the same confidence he’d shown on previous visits.

Kate heard those words again and again. Over time, she found herself feeling more confident about getting through treatment, and she credited Jon with helping her maintain a positive outlook.

She wasn’t the only person who remembered his kindness. Kimberly LaRussa, founder of the community organization Sweet Buffalo, had her own experience with him.

One day, Kimberly arrived at the hospital feeling particularly discouraged. Jon noticed her mood and asked whether she’d do him a favor. She agreed, wondering what he needed.

He smiled and asked her to have a good day for him. Kimberly later recalled that the unexpected request made her smile, even though she’d arrived feeling miserable. She hadn’t expected such a simple conversation at the valet stand to improve her mood.

He Had Always Wanted to See the Buffalo Bills

Jon is a devoted Buffalo Bills fan. He regularly wears a Bills hat while working outside the hospital, and talking about the team is something he enjoys.

During one of his conversations with Kate, he mentioned that he’d been saving money because he wanted to attend a Bills game. It was something he’d been hoping to do, and he was gradually putting aside enough money to make it happen.

Kate remembered what he’d told her. She also knew how much his encouragement had helped her during treatment, and she wanted to find a way to thank him.

She worked for West Herr Automotive Group, a car dealership company in western New York. When she shared the idea with her colleagues, they were eager to help.

The group began raising money and making phone calls. They wanted to give Jon something special, and by September 2026, they’d managed to arrange an experience that went beyond simply watching the game from the stands.

They Surprised Him With Tickets and Field Passes

Kate and her coworkers surprised Jon with tickets to see the Buffalo Bills play. They’d also arranged field passes that would allow him to get much closer to the action than he would from an ordinary stadium seat.

And there was another gift. The group presented him with a Buffalo Bills jersey signed by quarterback Josh Allen.

Jon was thrilled. He’d been saving up for a chance to see his favorite team, and now someone he’d encouraged at work had arranged the entire experience for him.

The surprise also caught the attention of other people who knew him from Roswell Park. Kimberly LaRussa and Mercedes Wilson joined Kate in helping organize an online fundraiser called Support for Jon Avery, Our Valet Hero.

Their message explained how Jon had spent years greeting cancer patients, encouraging them before appointments, and making people feel welcome. They wanted others who’d experienced his kindness to have an opportunity to show their appreciation.

The organizers made it clear that the donations weren’t tied to another football game or a particular gift. Whatever money came in would be Jon’s to spend however he wanted.

He Never Expected Anything in Return

When Steve Hartman interviewed Jon about the surprise, he was grateful for everything Kate and her coworkers had done. But he also explained that he hadn’t been looking for a reward.

He’d spent years greeting people outside the hospital because he enjoyed helping them. For Jon, offering someone a little encouragement was simply part of the way he wanted to live.

And when Hartman asked him about his attitude toward serving others, Jon gave an answer that explained why so many patients had grown fond of him.

“I serve people, that’s what I do.”