Amid his ongoing battle with stage IV colon cancer, former NHL star Ron Duguay has found comfort in former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. "She's been involved and incredibly supportive in my dad's entire journey," Duguay's daughter Shay Thomas exclusively told Us Weekly. "Their relationship can obviously be challenging because they live long distance. She's in Alaska, he's in Florida. But they have always remained close." Duguay, 68, was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2024, but kept it private from the public. The news was revealed earlier this week when his family launched a GoFundMe to help pay for his ongoing medical costs. "If we ever need her for something, she would take a red eye flight on short notice," Thomas said of Palin, 62. "If we have stuff with our kids and couldn't make it - for example, my dad had a surgery where they went into his colon and liver - and she stayed with him in the hospital for five days. She's been a huge source of support. Not only for my dad, but for our entire family." Former NHL Star Ron Duguay's Daughter Defends GoFundMe: 'He Had Nothing Left' Thomas added, "We're incredibly grateful for her." Duguay and Palin have been together since 2022. In a video shared by Thomas earlier this week, the former politician could be seen feeding Duguay with a spoon in his hospital bed. The GoFundMe has raised over $100,000, but it hasn't come without some controversy. "I see so many things where people are like, 'He has millions of dollars from back in the day. I'm like, 'What are we talking about?'" Thomas told Us. Duguay played for 12 seasons in the NHL from 1977 to 1989 with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings. Are Jack Hughes and Tate McRae Dating? Where Things Stand After Olympics "I've seen people with these comments of judgment and I don't even understand that," Thomas said. "If you don't want to do something, then don't do it. I've donated to GoFundMes when I've been in a position to help people. I don't know them, but you feel God's calling you to help someone and that's on your heart. If you're in a position where you can do that, that's on you. No one's forcing you to do anything." She continued, "I never understand some of these people with these crazy opinions. Most people don't make them unless they need to. Who wants to have an illness where you have this financial strain? You're desperate, in a sense, and that's where we're at." Thomas said starting the GoFundMe was a fight with her father "for many months." "He said, 'No, absolutely not,'" she recalled. "His credit card debt was going up and that's when I told him, 'Dad, just let me do this. I'm not going to put your name on there. Just let me do this. So many people have asked to help you. You need the help. You've helped people. Let them help.' ... We spoke as a family and we said, 'We need to make this GoFundMe. We gotta do everything we can. Because if we don't, it's going to kill you.'"