By Sharon Rosenberg
Why does anyone commit themselves to long hours, frequent rejection, and no monetary compensation? Certainly, there is satisfaction when all the hard work finally culminates in an event that you can be proud of, but still that is not the reason. It is simple. I want to fight something that has shattered my life and torn my heart. That something is pancreatic cancer.
I lost my husband, Irving Rosenberg, to this disease. We were married for 41 years. He was not perfect. None of us are. He was my world. There is not a day that I don’t miss him. As I write this, tears come to my eyes, and all the hurt, frustration, and longing for him is as fresh as the day I lost him on our anniversary, September 3, 2007.
No one should have to experience pancreatic cancer and, for that matter, any cancer. I guess you could say my husband was lucky because he survived 20 months with it. Sometimes I think that he held on by sheer will. What he went through during those 20 months would test the strongest person. Endless tests, a Whipple procedure, chemotherapy, radiation, experimental drugs, cyber knife, unbelievable pain, and suffering. I was there for him through all of this, watching him, caring for him, and dealing with the medical and insurance community, both good and bad. It has forever changed me, but also has lit a passion in me that will last my lifetime.
I want to put an end to pancreatic cancer, now and forever. The only way to do that is through research. Research requires funding. Why is pancreatic cancer one of the least funded cancers? I know there are other cancers that receive better funding because they affect a larger portion of the population, but still too many people are stricken with pancreatic cancer.
So my son, Paul and I, through his company, Real Results Fitness, decided to put on a 5K and Kids Dash to benefit the Hirshberg Foundation. We chose the Hirshberg Foundation because my husband was diagnosed at UCLA by Dr. Howard Reber, but mostly because the people involved with this organization are a pleasure and a joy to work with on so many levels. They are so understanding and helpful. We do this for another reason. In the Las Vegas / Henderson community there has never been a fundraising event that calls attention to pancreatic cancer. We want the people in Clark County that have been touched by this disease to have an outlet to fire their passion in fighting for a cure. A fundraising event can give people stricken with pancreatic cancer and their families and opportunity to vent their frustrations and put a positive in their life.
Our 3rd Annual 5K and Kids Dash at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, Nevada was bigger than last year! SUCCESS…we had over 400 people attend and raised more than $12,000! We were also honored to have two pancreatic cancer survivors participate in the walk. We are already looking towards next March for the 4th Annual 5K and Kids Dash in 2012! For more information about our race, please go to www.realresultsfitness.com to register for next year. We welcome you to join us at our event.