Jerika Giwner lost her father, Jurek, to pancreatic cancer when he was 57 years old in 2002. She is planning on honoring her father by walking to raise awareness and funds to fight pancreatic cancer. Photos Courtesy Jerika Giwner
Despite losing her father in 2002 to pancreatic cancer, Forest Hills resident Jerika Giwner continues to battle the disease by participating in an annual walk to help raise awareness and funds to fight pancreatic cancer.
“Helping to raise awareness is vital in the fight against pancreatic cancer,” says Giwner, who lost her father, Jurek, when he was only 57-years-old.
“More people need to know about this deadly disease,” she says. “That’s why I tell people about my experience either in conversations or through my Facebook page to help spread the word and hopefully inspire others to join the fight.”
In honor of her father, Giwner, along with thousands of other residents will participate in The Lustgarten Foundation’s 13th annual Long Island Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk to be held on Sunday, October 13, at Jones Beach.
The Lustgarten Foundation is the nation’s largest non-profit funder of pancreatic cancer research, whose mission is to support research and raise awareness to ultimately find a cure for pancreatic cancer.
According to the foundation, pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and can often go undetected until it’s too late.
Moreover, there are no early detection tests, no effective long-term treatments and, unless the cancer is surgically removed in its earliest stages, no cure.
Since its inception, the foundation has committed more than $65 million to promising research, according to executive director Kerri Kaplan.
“Our very first walk was held on Long Island 13 years ago, and it continues to be the largest of our nationwide, annual walks,” says Kaplan, who anticipates more than 7,000 participants, raising more than $1 million for this year’s walk.
Giwner, a practicing lawyer who has lived in Forest Hills since 2008, recalls her father as “the most amazing person ever…who would have done anything for anybody.” She also recalls seeing movies with him on weekends or “whenever they could.”
Jerika Giwner with her team, “No Factor.”
But, she also remembers how difficult losing him was.
“My father’s passing from pancreatic cancer was devastating to me and our entire family. It was unbearable from the moment he learned he had the disease in February 2002 to October of the same year when he passed away. He brought such joy to our lives,” Giwner recalls.
So, in 2008, Giwner decided to take decisive action to help fight the disease which robbed her of her father by joining the foundation’s Long Island Walk.
“I believe people continue to support me in fundraising for the walk, because of the wonderful impact my father had on so many,” she says.
“Since we joined the Foundation’s walk, we’ve raised well over $25,000 to date and have more than 20 members on our team. We also are motivated by the fact that all of the money goes directly to research. Knowing we do this in his honor is a terrific feeling.”
Further, the name of Giwner’s walk team, “No Factor,” is a direct tribute to her dad.
Giwner recalls that Instead of saying “no problem” her father instead said “no factor.”
“Thinking of him saying it always brings a smile to my face and I felt in his honor, it was the best name for our walk team,” she explains.
“However, it also signifies that by participating in the walk, our team is helping to make pancreatic cancer “no factor” by raising funds for research to find a cure.”
Asked about Giwner’s participation in the walk, Kaplan says it’s essential to help in the organization’s fight against the disease.
“We are deeply grateful for exceptionally dedicated individuals like Jerika,” Kaplan says.
“They are the reason that we’re able to raise much-needed awareness of pancreatic cancer and raise funds that will go directly to advancing important research aimed at developing early detection tests, better treatments, and ultimately, a cure.”
For more information about the walk or to register, please visit www.curePC.org.
By Alan Krawitz
