Friends And Community Rally Behind Amputee Photographer

REDONDO BEACH, CA — An unlikely group with one common connection — all friends of local celebrity and photographer Randy Ruby — have rallied together as "Team Randy" to support Ruby through losing his right arm to cancer. As a photographer, his right arm was his "livelihood," one of Ruby's high school friends Monica Berg said, so his cancer diagnosis was "devastating."

In 1975, Ruby was caught in an apartment fire and suffered from third degree burns, which developed into squamous cell carcinoma over a decade later. Originally just a growth on his finger, the cancer spread through his right arm and eventually had to be amputated, said Catherine Carlisle, a childhood friend of Ruby's. He's had some bad luck, according to one of Ruby's oldest friends Steve Sampson, but is a "really tough dude."

"He’s been dealt a few really crappy hands and has never let that get in the way of him being happy and grateful," Sampson said.

As an active kayaker and photographer in Redondo Beach for many years, Ruby was "destroyed" when he found out that he needed his right arm amputated, Berg said. After the procedure, there were a of nights full of tears, and a lot of nights full of hope, she said, but he was "just as determined as ever."

Collectively, the group is actively trying to pivot Ruby's focus away from the troubles he's endured, while looking forward to the "next phase" of Ruby's life, Sampson said. In order to keep his spirits up, Team Ruby has set up a fundraiser to replace Ruby's right-handed camera equipment with left-handed gear so he can continue doing what he's passionate about.

"I want to see him live a full life," Sampson said. "He’s got a lot more pictures to take, so that’s the goal. To get him back on his feet and focus on what he’ll do with the next part of his life."

Ruby, who "operates on literally zero ego," Berg said, is well-liked within his group of friends, but also in the community. If 1,000 people were asked about Ruby, according to Berg, not one would have anything negative to say about him.

As a testament to his character, Sampson referred to Rudy as "one of the most giving and positive people he knows," while Carlisle said he's "super loyal, and always helping other people."

"While I've known these people [Team Randy] for a while, we were never really close, but now we're in constant contact to help Randy." Carlisle said. "It’s brought us closer together, growing our appreciation for him but also for each other."

The fundraiser for new left-handed camera equipment, as well as funding on-going treatments and physical therapy for the cancer and amputation, is this Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 1726 Esplanade, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Light refreshments will be served, and Ruby's photography prints and greeting cards will be on sale, but donations are highly encouraged. Team Randy has set up a GoFundMe account, as well as a Paypal account for direct donations to Ruby.

Photos via Randy Ruby