Tigers' public address announcer Jay Allen diagnosed with stage 4 cancer

In late March, Jay Allen received word that he had landed his dream job.

After years of experience in minor league baseball, semi-professional sports and high school athletics in the Grand Rapids area, Allen was hired by the Detroit Tigers as the public address announcer at Comerica Park.

But on Monday, in the most heart-wrenching story of the Tigers’ season, Allen learned he is in a fight for his life.

According to a Go Fund Me page created by his wife, Lisa, Allen has been diagnosed with stage 4 bile duct cancer. The cancer has already spread to his liver and lungs.

“He has begun a battle for his life,” Lisa wrote. “The medical team says the average life expectancy is 18 months, but we know Jay and the Lord have other plans! Jay is strong in his faith and we believe that by his faith, Jay will be healed. We are in Jay’s corner and we will fight this battle with him.”

Allen, 59, commutes back-and-forth from Grand Rapids to Detroit. He has worked each of this week’s games against the Seattle Mariners.

To donate to Allen’s Go Fund Me page, visit this link: https://www.gofundme.com/jay039s-crazy-cancer-journey

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Contact Anthony Fenech at afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.