How to Tee-Off Your First Event

By Foster the CURE

Our dad, Jim Foster was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on September 16, 2011 and lost his battle 4 months later at 56 years old. He was a husband, dad, grandpa, friend, and respected colleague. He was a truly genuine person and always put his family first. He deserved a lot more time than he was ultimately given. We knew the prognosis was grim but fought with him for those four months and when he lost his battle, we knew we couldn’t stop fighting. “Foster the CURE” was formed to help raise funds for pancreatic cancer research to hopefully allow someone else to thrive with their life in a way that our dad couldn’t.

After the success of our local rummage sale in 2012, we began setting our sights even higher so this year held our first golf tournament! We pulled together as a team and were able to make our first tournament, which included a luncheon and raffle, a success. Everyone associated with Foster the CURE believes that one day all of the good that the Hirshberg Foundation is doing will be able to provide a cure for pancreatic cancer. Our dad wasn’t given that chance and when you lose hope, you lose your life. We will continue to fight for our dad and raise money for the Hirshberg Foundation so that others won’t lose hope.

Here are some tips we learned when planning our event:

Why a Golf Event? We wanted to do something that honored our dad. He loved to golf so the golf tournament idea began.

Accept a Helping Hand… Dad golfed at the Sun Valley Golf Course and they were very helpful in planning the tournament with us. We all divided up the duties of the golf tournament so one person wouldn’t get overwhelmed.

Set Goals… On top of creating awareness we wanted to get out there and raise as much money as we could. We were able to obtain sponsors including a local hospital, hotel, businesses, and a local family (the Koch’s).

Get the Word Out… We did interviews with all the local news stations and a local radio station that interviewed us ran our PSA up to the day of the event.

Try Something New… We started a facebook page for Foster the CURE and regularly posted updates!

Challenge Yourselves… We accomplished things we’d never done before by working with the golf course, planning logistics & rules, registering golfers, requesting raffle prizes, approaching sponsors, and more.

Overcome Obstacles… Before the tournament it began to rain and didn’t stop. It wasn’t enough to postpone the event and the golfers stuck it out and went through the course like it was sunny and 85 degrees!

Thank Supporters… We thanked sponsors by placing signs at each hole, using social media, and in writing. We offered golfers additional items including a team memorabilia photo at the first hole, lunch, and the winning team received a trophy. We appreciated the golfers sticking it out with us and next year can only be better!

Foster the CURE consists of Jim Foster’s family – his wife: Karen Foster, his children: Brandi Duerksen, Monica Colella, Kristin Casotti, and Jamie Foster, and his children’s spouses and his grandchildren.

“A Dedication to our Great Friend & Colleague at CLG”

By Sarah Banks

James S. Hillgren was a devoted husband, a loving father, and an engaging leadership coach at The Continuous Learning Group. In October of 2011, Jim lost his 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Throughout his diagnosis he was known for his positive attitude and for remaining honest & objective about his diagnosis even as the disease became more challenging. His CLG business partner of 15 years, Steve Jacobs, described him as “a warrior” as he endured vigorous treatments and, in a letter written to the company he wrote “we will miss Jim more than words could ever describe.”

An executive at CLG, Jim wore many hats as a business partner, a Chief People Officer, and leadership coach. One of Jim’s final projects was co-authoring the book “The Behavior Breakthrough”. As a special way to honor his memory, co-authors, partners, and mentees dedicated the book in Jim’s memory. The company then reached out to the Hirshberg Foundation to set up a memorial fund as a special tribute to him. After the book release in May 2013, CLG will be contributing a portion of the book royalties towards research and supporting patients and families facing pancreatic cancer.

Jim believed in giving back and it was a code he lived by. One of Jim’s favorite quotes was, “There’s a time to earn, a time to learn, and a time to serve.” The two people closest to him at CLG, Steve Jacobs and long-time Executive Assistant Donna Dotson, spoke fondly of his calm yet proactive nature expressing that Steve has said “Jim created a sense of purpose and camaraderie. When he spoke people always listened, yet he focused more on others than himself. He had a strong presence and a great sense of humor but he encouraged others around him to shine.”

The company has always seen their motto “When it’s time to make things happen” as a call to action amongst peers and clients alike. Undoubtedly, his knowledge, expertise, and caring guidance helped people unleash their true potential. Jim’s real gift was that he had a gentle, quiet approach. People were naturally drawn to him and he had the innate ability to create calmness where there was chaos. Throughout his illustrious career, Jim’s thoughtful leadership and his inviting, calm style were ever-present in all that he did as a CLG senior executive.

He was a dedicated member of the Continuous Learning Group family since 1998 and his peers at CLG will remember him as an exceptional and generous man. Jim Hillgren’s legacy will continue through the work of individuals and organizations around the world.

Editor’s Note: In 2012, 15 year old Jack Andraka from Maryland became instant news by winning first place at The Intel National Science Fair. He had developed a novel test to detect early stage pancreatic cancer and we began receiving countless calls and emails about this budding scientist in the pancreatic cancer community.   Jack’s mentor, Dr. Anirban Maitra at Johns Hopkins, was a Hirshberg keynote speaker several years ago at the annual American Pancreatic Association’s meeting.  Dr. Maitra’s lecture on genomics and clinical applications was brilliant and inspirational, so it was no surprise that he became a mentor to this young scientist. We asked Jack and Dr. Maitra to share their story with us and say a few words about their collaboration…

By Jack Andraka, 15 Year Old Researcher

When I was 14 years old a very close friend of our family died from pancreatic cancer. I didn’t even know what a pancreas was! I began to do some research and quickly found out what a terrible disease it is and discovered that it’s often diagnosed until much too late. There had to be a better way. While I continued learning about current ways of treating cancer I was also working on the effects of nano particles on marine and freshwater organisms. I was fascinated by single walled carbon nanotubes- they’re like the superheroes of material science! I smuggled an article about nanotubes into my high school biology class and was reading it while the teacher was telling us about antibodies. Suddenly it hit me- what if I dispersed antibodies to a protein over expressed by pancreatic cancer with single walled carbon nanotubes and dipped strips of filter paper to create a sensor. When the ‘cancer protein’ was dropped onto the strip the protein would bind with the antibody and cause a change in the electrical property of the strip. I could measure this change with an ohm meter from Home Depot.

Of course there was a lot more research to do but finally I had my proposal ready. I searched the Internet for professors who did pancreatic cancer research and sent out emails to about 200 people and got 199 rejections. I got one interview and it was with Dr. Maitra! I could finally start working in the lab but at first nothing was working. I had so much to learn. I worked after school and on weekends and my school holidays and finally, after 7 months, came up with a strip that worked! Of course, I thought it could be sold in stores right away but Dr. Maitra patiently explained about all the refinements and trials that still needed to be done. Now I’m talking to several Biotech companies who have the resources for further development and to bring the test to market. If a 15 year old who didn’t even know he had a pancreas could create a sensor to detect cancer using Google and Wikipedia, imagine what you can do!

By Dr. Anirban Maitra, MBBS, Johns Hopkins

It was truly a privilege to mentor a student as committed as Jack in my laboratory.  Remarkably, when we first met he was too young to drive. His mother would wait downstairs in the parking lot while Jack completed his experiments. His parents, who did such a fabulous job immersing Jack and his brother in an environment permeated with science and curiosity, deserve a great deal of credit.  It’s very unusual for a 15 year old to write an introductory email that contains 30 pages of protocol, complete with supplies, catalog numbers and pitfalls! So, accepting Jack into the laboratory was a no-brainer.  Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration, and Jack worked very hard during the 7 months he spent in my laboratory prior to the Intel Science Fair. I truly hope Jack is able to inspire the younger generation of this country that science can be cool!”

On April 28^th close friends Debbie Ragonig and Kim Colton hosted the 1^st Annual Gourmet Cupcakes & Champagne fundraiser at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood. Only two weeks before Mother’s Day, the timing seemed to align perfectly as Debbie planned an event to honor the memory of her mom. After enduring cancer treatment on and off during her adult life Debbie’s mom ultimately faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis which she fought for 6 months.

Ten years later, Debbie began a journey of becoming increasingly pro-active for her own health as well as for her kids. After much research on pancreatic cancer and ways to help join the fight, Debbie recalls reading articles from medical journals and statistics about the disease. She thought to herself, Cupcakes and Champagne should definitely be a recipe to help fight against pancreatic cancer…and so this event was born.

With over 75 people in attendance the fundraiser raised $7,000 in three hours. Guests attending received unlimited free cupcake samples, a swag bag, a raffle ticket and a glass of champagne. Debbie and Kim searched, what seemed like, all of Southern California for the right bakeries and prizes their guests would spend big bucks on. The response to donation requests was amazing! They collected 14 silent auction packages including a Napa Valley trip, VIP seats to “The Ellen Show,” deep sea fishing for two, VIP tickets to the Tonite Show with Jay Leno, and much more. And it didn’t stop there. Over 30 raffle packages decorated the Federal Bar including gift cards to movies, restaurants, activities, getaways and even a Lucky Strike Bowling party. A full room was dedicated to eight leading Los Angeles bakeries including two winners from Season 2 of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” , Bake You Happy and Double “D” Cupcakes, who made and donated cupcakes. Joining the line-up of bakeries adding more decadent cupcakes was Create Your Own Cake Bakery, Cup My Cakez, Heavenly Frostings Shoppe, The Blooming Bakery, ButterSweet Minis, and Nothing Bundt Cakes. This class act was topped off with champagne to sip and cheese platters. To say the least, the number of sponsors and donations for this event was off the chart!

Kim and Debbie were very happy with how our event came together and turned out. Kim commented, “We wanted to host our own event to raise money for pancreatic cancer. The event turned out better than we could have hoped. It was a lot of work but well worth it.” I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house when Debbie gave her speech and told her story. You might be able to find this on Facebook or Instagram, the story was very safeguarded by those at the event. Debbie does have an Instagram account where she’s sharing her day-to-day life experiences, let’s give her some free instagram followers to get her account going! 🙂

By Nicole Walsh

My dad is the kind of person who takes care of his family and friends first. On July 23, 2012 he was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and started treatment three weeks later. I felt a little helpless not being able to live full time in Massachusetts with him since I am studying at UCLA. While searching for pancreatic cancer charities, I found the Hirshberg Foundation and realized their lab was in the same building as the lab I work in.

I saw the Hirshberg Training Team (HTT) and asked my mom to do the LA Marathon charity relay with me. My mom, Maria, is the person who got me into running. In 2010 I completed my first half-marathon, so I thought it would be something we could do together. Even though she lives across the country, together we could show support for our friends and family affected by cancer. I was very appreciative that my mom was able and willing to do this with me, especially since she was across the country. While I know that she has her own reasons for participating, I was touched that she would commit to the training, fundraising, and all-around effort of a half-marathon in California. She knew it was important for me and her participation meant the world to me.

It was interesting training as a team, even though we lived in different states. I had the benefit of training with the HTT most weeks while she had to motivate herself through her training. My dad didn’t say much about my mom and I teaming up for this project when I initially told him. When he bought plane tickets and booked a hotel room to be in LA for the marathon, I knew just how much it meant to him. Training for the marathon made me fell connected to what my dad was going through. I was amazed by how much I was able to surpass my fundraising goal. The support from my friends, co-workers, and my dad’s co-workers was wonderful. It really drives home how much my dad means to the people he interacts with.

The marathon and my training with HTT was amazing. I met some really wonderful people and made some great running friends who I still run with. Our coaches with Club 26.2 did a fantastic job at the Saturday morning runs and helped my mom through her remote training. It was great to meet everyone who is a part of the Hirshberg Foundation. They welcomed my mom and I like we were family.

Both of my parents had a great time on marathon weekend. They were both excited to meet the Foundation and happy to know I have an amazing support network here in LA. The whole experience is one that I will never forget. After the race my dad told me that he couldn’t have been prouder of me. I couldn’t thank my mom enough, not just because she ran with me, but for all of the support she has given me through this difficult time. We are looking forward to doing the relay again next year!

By Jonathan Moerschel

I came to understand the devastating and tragic effects of pancreatic cancer when my first wife, Eugenie, lost her brave battle with the disease in 2003. She was a wonderful pianist, and was finishing up her Doctorate of Music Arts degree at USC. She was my best friend and my musical partner. We were married only 10 months. She was 34 years old, had undergone 5 major surgeries and had been fighting pancreatic cancer for 5 years. I was angry at the disease and angry that there wasn’t more that could be done in the way of treatment. I remember deciding that, one day, I wanted to be able to do something to help in the fight against cancer.

Jumping ahead seven years, I had made a decision to start running again after a 12-year hiatus due to chronic injuries. Although my friends recommended I buy some Vessi footwear, I wanted to run barefoot. I had read about barefoot running, and how many people have overcome injuries and were running pain-free. Somehow, this concept was fascinating to me, even as a self-described germaphobe. About six months into my experimental barefoot running phase (yes, running without shoes of any kind), I came across the Hirshberg Foundation’s LA Cancer Challenge 5k on the internet. I knew right away that I had to get involved with the Foundation, and running the 5k seemed like a great idea. It was the first time I came across any organization that was dedicated solely to pancreatic cancer research. At the 2010 LA Cancer Challenge, I ran my first ever 5k, and without any shoes. It was the longest distance I had ever run in my life. It was an unexpectedly emotional experience for me as I thought about why I was running the 5k and raising money for the Hirshberg Foundation. It felt really good to finally be able to do something to help in the fight against cancer.

I was so impressed by the event and how well organized it was. I could tell that there were so many others that could understand what I had been through, which was both sad and comforting. It was sad because I was surrounded by people who, unfortunately, had experience with pancreatic cancer. However, it was comforting to see that so many people had come out to support each other, to raise awareness about this disease, and to help raise money for much-needed research. Little did I know that running that 5k back in 2010 would lead me to do something I vowed I would never do: run a marathon.

I began training for the 2012 LA Marathon in October of 2011. I had been running barefoot for about a year and a half, and still hadn’t run more than 4 miles. After our first training run, I realized first that I had a lot of work to do before I was ready to run a marathon, but I also realized I was getting involved with a really great group of people. We had such great support and encouragement from everyone at Hirshberg and from our running coaches Robert, Euri and Jack. We all had our ups and downs with training, but we supported each other and all finished our first marathon that year. I decided by 7 pm after that first marathon, that I needed to run it again the next year. So, on my 34th birthday this year, I ran my second marathon.

Running the marathon was a tremendous experience for me, both physically and mentally. My emotions were a roller-coaster of a ride, but every time I felt tired or sore, I reminded myself why I was doing it, and I managed to push through the discomfort. The outpouring of support from both volunteers and the public who lined the streets really helped keep my spirits up. Coming up to the Hirshberg Foundation’s Purple Cheer Station at Mile 21 with dozens of cheering supporters all in their purple clothes was an extraordinary experience that brought tears to my eyes. That moment was a big reminder of my loss back in 2003, but also a beacon of hope for the future of those that are fighting cancer.

I’m not exactly sure what it is about running a marathon that I like, but I know running the marathon for pancreatic cancer gives the experience real purpose for me. I know that while I am sore and tired, it is a small sacrifice if I can help make a difference for someone in the future who will live longer after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I am so very proud to have been a member of the Hirshberg Training Team and run the LA Marathon the last two years in memory of Eugenie, and in support of pancreatic cancer research.