David Cook Visits Luke Menard in the Hospital

May 28, 2008

Preparing for the American Idol finale means long hours and hard work. But days before David Cook was declared the season seven winner, he dropped everything to visit with fellow Top 24 contestant Luke Menard in a Los Angeles hospital.

Menard, 29, was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“I love Luke and I just wanted to show up and make sure that he understood that I love him and know that if there’s anything I can do for him and his wife, sign me up, you know?” Cook tells PEOPLE. “Luke, Michael Johns, Jason Yeager and myself, we kind of buddied up one day at Hollywood week,” Cook explains. “We called ourselves the four horsemen. Any time one of your own is going through something as horrible as that, it makes everything else seem a little bit insignificant.

“Cancer,” says Cook, “is a very big part of my existence.” Cook’s older brother Adam has been battling brain cancer for 10 years. “I’m excited to be put in [the spotlight] where I can hopefully do something to help other people.” –Monica Rizzo

.Micelotta/Getty; FOX

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Goose May 28th, 2008

DAVID IS A TRUE FRIEND AND KIND PERSON!!

jrod1895 May 28th, 2008

I have to say that David Cook as been a top notch class character from the very beginning of American Idol. He deserved to win it all. Good luck in the future.

SCOTT May 28th, 2008

AMEN, FINALLY A PERSON WHO MAKES IT BIG, BUT STILL REMEMBERS WHAT A FRIEND IS GL LUKE MAY GOD BLESS AND HELP YOU SR

Nicole May 28th, 2008

Wow…poor Luke.

sandy May 28th, 2008

stop with the publicity stunts already. it’s disgusting how you exploited your brother and this contestant. when you do a “good deed,” why have it reported all over magazines?

Micki May 28th, 2008

Duh - having a brother with a terminal illness, he just said that he wants to bring more exposure to it so perhaps more people will be willing to help those in need. It’s not necessarily publicity for him, it’s for cancer sufferers.

Suz May 28th, 2008

You are so sad Sandy…why always believe the worst instead of seeing this as a caring act. Would you have felt better had he not gone at all to visit. Anything that he does for a while will be reported. Take a good look at yourself…Maybe go visit someone who is sick today!

Nicole May 28th, 2008

Lyn May 28th, 2008

I am a 69 year old grandmother, and I think DC is one fine man, and someone to be admired. Thanks for the story. Gives us more depth to this fine man. This was a great year, and a wonderful group of talent, but David’s maturity and class, and talent won out.

Sylvia May 28th, 2008

Hey Sandy…lighten up!! Why so bitter?
We should have more people like David to speak about the awareness of any horrible disease.

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