I started volunteering for the Hirshberg Foundation because Agi asked me to help with the first run event back in 1999 – The Adidas Three Stripe Challenge. I showed up early and was assigned to help with registration. Agi came by, took my hand, led me to the tee shirt and pledge prize booth and said “We need you to help here – make it work!” And so I did. After all these years, I am still on the LACC Planning Committee. Running the T-Shirt & Pledge Prize Booth is still my gig, and is affectionately referred to as Martin’s Booth.
The best part about being on the planning committee is getting there the morning of the run (at 5:00 a.m.!) and knowing that the event is about to start after all of the planning, meetings and hard work. The energy builds and builds – it is always a great day. Personally exciting for me this past year was the new and improved Gift Bag/Tee Shirt/Pledge Prize/Info Booth. It is always a challenge to successfully help and service all of the wonderful runners and walkers and this was the first big re-vamp in over ten years. We got great feedback on the new set-up and location and all went well. I am already thinking and planning for the 2011 LACC.
In 2008, the year I was turning 49 years old, I joined the Hirshberg Training Team and completed my first 13.1 mile race, The Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, TN. It was a challenging goal to set for myself, but I did it and got great donations too. I am committed to volunteer for the Hirshberg Foundation as long as they need me. I am in it until there is a cure for Pancreatic Cancer. Agi is committed to find the cure and so am I.
The best part of volunteering for the Hirshberg Foundation is that I am helping with a great foundation that is doing great things. I know that my time and efforts help the foundation with their mission to find a cure for Pancreatic Cancer.
A dear friend of the Hirshberg Foundation family, Martin continues to volunteer at the LA Cancer Challenge every year; run in the LA Marathon and fundraise thousands of dollars on the Hirshberg Training Team; and as of 2017 we’re thrilled to welcome him as a member of the staff. His enduring commitment to fight for a cure in memory of Ron Hirshberg, and his determination to never give us continues to inspire others to get involved.