I am honored to assist my family and participate in their accomplishments in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Each and every one of you reading this can hopefully relate to these words that come from my heart. I am 31-years-old now, married, with a baby girl due in October—Jessica Rayne Hirshberg. Life is moving so quickly. I think about my father, Ron Hirshberg—for whom the foundation is named—and the words of wisdom he would have undoubtedly offered at this time in my life. I wonder, did he sit around with my mom and talk about baby names for hours? Did they read books together? Was my mom as crazy as my wife Nicole during pregnancy? (Just kidding Nicole…I love you) Was he nervous about bringing Lisa (my sister) and me into this crazy world? Did he change diapers? My parents were so young.

It hurts so much knowing my pops will never get to hold my children; never get to teach them the words of wisdom he taught me; take them to breakfast at Nate and Al’s; take them boating and for rides on his motorcycles. He will always be their grandfather; always be looking out for my little ones from above as he has looked out for me. I can only imagine my Dad’s big smile when Jessica is born. Trust me, when she is born, I will look up at the sky and know that he is watching over us. The one thing I will strive for most with my kids is a “magical” relationship like I had with my pop. We created magical memories I cherish everyday. Memories are real! Memories are what we take with us from our adventures. Wonderful memories are what I want to be able to leave my children with when it is my time to go.

If you are a son or daughter who has lost a parent, take a moment to look at the sky. Your loved ones are up there making sure everything is okay. If you are a grandmother or grandfather, grab your little ones and create the memories for them to cherish. Life is short, seize the day and live it 24/7.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your support of the Foundation through the years. We will not stop our fight until we find a cure for pancreatic cancer. Family and friends are the soul of the Foundation and without your efforts and support we would not have been able to get to where we are today. I also want to thank Agi for her endless energy and tireless commitment to the Foundation. We have great plans for the future and our families and friends are growing and making us stronger as a fighting machine against this disease. I look forward to the bright future of The Hirshberg Foundation. Together, we will build a place where you and your families can create your magical memories together.

Thank you for your time and don’t forget to look at the sky and smile.

The 2^nd Annual Marlborough Police Department 5k Police Chase & Family Day, held this past September in Marlborough, Massachusetts, raised over $3,500 for the Hirshberg Foundation. The event, sponsored by the Marlborough Patrolmen’s IBPO Local 527, was held in memory of Sergeant William Kirby. Kirby died last February at age 57 after an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

“He was what you think of when you think of a cop,” said Officer Pat Hogan. “We decided that this year we wanted to do the race in his memory.” According to Hogan, after Kirby’s death, many officers talked about doing something to honor the sergeant, who spent more than 30 years with the department. They decided to donate the race proceeds to the Hirshberg Foundation.

“They contacted us because they lost their beloved sergeant,” said Agi Hirshberg. “We are touched and so very appreciative of all that they have done to support our research efforts and to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer.”

Editor’s note: We wanted to share with you the story of NelsonArt, and what one young woman is doing to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer while honoring her mother’s memory.

Ann Taylor Nelson was a gifted artist who lived in Colorado, where she created vivid watercolor landscapes and still lifes. During her lifetime she was able to exhibit and sell her paintings, share ideas, and travel to Europe to develop her unique style and color sense. When she died of pancreatic cancer in 2000, she left behind over a hundred stunning watercolor paintings.

Her daughter, Amy, also an artist, was sitting at her desk shortly after her mother’s death when the idea for NelsonArt struck– by creating a line of fine art cards, she could share her Mom’s work with the world as well as raise money for a worthy cause. We are pleased to say that she chose the Hirshberg Foundation.

The cards are available to purchase by visiting www.nelsonart.net or calling 323-655-4551. Prices begin at $15.00, and a portion of all proceeds go directly to the Hirshberg Foundation. The high quality, vividly colored stationary make a beautiful gift while allowing you to help Amy in her venture to honor her mother and find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

Four women from the Hirshberg Foundation Marathon Team in Los Angeles made the trip to the Big Island of Hawaii this past June to participate in the Kona Marathon and Family Fun Run to raise money for the Hirshberg Pancreatic Cancer Center at UCLA.

The women joined an estimated 2,000 runners of all ages and abilities as they competed for prize money and raised funds for a number of charities. Team members committed to raise at least $3,300 for the Foundation and in return they received free airfare, four nights at a hotel, and entry into the Marathon. They were also invited to participate in a weekly training program held in Marina del Rey by Robert Mills, Director of Club 26.2, one of the area’s premiere marathon training coaches.

Lisa Hirshberg, who lost her father Ronnie in 1997, and her friend Mandy De Souza finished the ½ marathon in 2:57:43. Mandy raised the most money, collecting over $3,800. Allison Kaplan, an employee of the John Wayne Cancer Institute, lost her father to pancreatic cancer a few years ago. She ran the 10k in 1:57:54, a miraculous time in her eyes given that, prior to the training program, she never exercised. “When I crossed the finish line, Lisa and I just burst into tears thinking about our dads up there watching us and rooting us on. My dad kept me going for all 6 miles,” stated Allison.

Michelle Eskenazi, who ran the ½ marathon in 3:17:34, was also touched by the experience and is looking forward to the next event. “Being part of something that has unified nearly 2,000 people, all with different reasons and motivations for being involved, was truly amazing. On a personal level, I was able to accomplish something I never thought I would be able to do. I can’t wait to do it again next June in Anchorage, Alaska!”

Hirshberg Foundation Director Lisa Manheim noted that the women raised money in a variety of different ways. “Allison hosted a fundraising night at the Pizza Cookery, inviting friends, family, and co-workers, while Michelle held a garage sale and hosted a fundraising dinner at Fresh Choice restaurant. They all really went the distance.”

Citing the success of the event and the team’s efforts, Manheim went on to explain, “The Hirshberg Foundation encourages people to join our Marathon Training Program for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it helps raise money for pancreatic cancer research. But it’s also great exercise, an amazing experience and a fun vacation as well.”

My boyfriend’s grandfather recently passed away due to pancreatic cancer. He was a very healthy, wonderfully dapper, kind-hearted, energetic and motivated 85-year-old. A role model for all—the kind of man who was born to be a grandfather. The disease took his life rather suddenly. I didn’t get a chance to know his as well as I would have liked to, but he reminded me of my mother’s father, whom I lost 10 years ago and adored. So watching him pass away was even more hurtful. His family members are some of the best people around—watching them suffer along with him through the two months of distress was all I need as motivated to run the Boston Marathon in his memory.

I sent out a letter to over a hundred people, explaining that I was running the Boston Marathon and that I was asking for them to be there on race day with me in spirit. I didn’t have to raise any money to actually run, so I just invited people to give to one of three charities (The Hirshberg Foundation of course being one of them!) if they wanted to. The response was amazing. I received checks from over 70% of those I wrote to.

The day before the marathon, my sister flew in from San Francisco so she could watch me. She’s a marathon runner too. We went out to dinner and about three glasses of wine into it (her, not me!), she decided that she was going to run it as well—she wanted to support me and keep me company! Unbelievable! She was training for a triathlon, but hadn’t run more than an hour in over a year. So she ran with me while my friends from Boston and New York watched, and my boyfriend and his parents were there as well. All to cheer me on. I felt great. And I finished in my best time yet!

Running a marathon is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. When is the last time you had thousands of people, friends, family and strangers rooting you on for three and a half straight hours? It doesn’t happen in this world, but it happens on race day. And to have that support, along with knowing that support wasn’t just for me personally, but for the causes I raised money for, was incredible.

Carney Duntsch of Memphis, Tennessee contacted the Hirshberg Foundation a few months ago via email. She energetically wrote us about her father, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of 1999, and is living with the disease. Robert Skinner is a 53-year-old avid climber and whitewater canoe buff. One week he was climbing mountains, and the next he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Finding out how deadly this cancer is was a devastating blow to Carney and her family. Yet, she knew she couldn’t just sit around—she had to do something.

Carney explains, “I have watched my father undergo radical surgery, high dose chemotherapy, and radiation. Less than one year after his diagnosis, he has beaten the odds and is still alive, but his fight is not over. Watching him suffer through this has pushed me to organize a fundraising effort.”

This effort is called “Family Ties.” Carney is inviting celebrities, via a mail campaign, to donate a tie: necktie, bow tie, scarf, string bikini, anything that ties. These items will then be auctioned on Ebay, with all proceeds going to the Ronald S Hirshberg Pancreatic Cancer Research Center. Carney is excited about the prospects. “My hope is that other family members of pancreatic cancer victims will become aware of this effort, and take part in “Family Ties” in a nationwide fundraising campaign.” Donald Trump was the first to donate an item, a necktie, to the effort. Ted Turner has also contributed.

Carney is hoping to receive all items by July 16, 2000, her father’s 54^th birthday, but she needs all the assistance she can get.