By Kim Pope
In November of 2010, the 1st Annual FORE a Cure 50/50 Raffle was held in memory of Dr. Steven Fore. A 50/50 raffle is simply a raffle where we sell tickets, and half of the money collected goes to the Foundation while the other half is given to the winner (with the request to donate the entire amount back to the Foundation). We sold 500 tickets and raised $1,250 for the Hirshberg Foundation.
In April of 2009, my stepfather, Dr. Steven Fore was given the devastating diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer. Steven was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a physician who gave of himself to so many and never wanted anything in return. His life, both professionally and personally, was devoted to good health. The diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer was shocking because the risk factors associated with this cancer did not apply to Steven. Within days of his diagnosis, he had the Whipple procedure, followed by chemo and radiation but ultimately lost his battle on August 16, 2009.
In spite of his seemingly good health, he lived only four months after his diagnosis. Although we are grateful for those months, he suffered terribly during the various treatments. Losing a loved one is difficult, but watching a vibrant, healthy person become ravaged by cancer is indescribable. Our goal is to raise awareness for this silent but deadly disease and continue raising money for research. Steven strived to educate his patients, family, and friends on health issues. We know he would want others educated about Pancreatic Cancer and spared the typical progression of this disease. Our hope is that researchers are provided the funding so that early detection, more successful treatments, and ultimately, prevention, will replace the current grim statistics for individuals diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. If you, or someone you love, has been affected by this disease educate, advocate, and donate today!
