Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Don Furko Jr. is running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon next weekend in memory of his father and in honor of TEAMHope.
A Plum native is taking the challenge of running 13.1 miles in honor of his late father. Don Furko Jr., affiliate coordinator of the Pittsburgh-area Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, has been training for months to run his first half marathon—and he's doing it all in memory of his father, Don Furko Sr., and in the name of a cure to pancreatic cancer. Don Furko Sr.—he grew up in Oakmont, raised his family in Plum, and was the former girls' soccer coach at Plum High School—was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 2010. He died less than two months later. Furko Jr.—a Plum High School graduate—will run the Pittsburgh Half Marathon on Sunday as part of the TEAMHope program benefiting the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Last year, …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Mayor Rich Hrivnak announced last week that November would be Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in the Borough of Plum.
The national color for pancreatic cancer awareness is purple—so it seems fitting that Plum Borough declare November to be Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Last week, Plum Mayor Rich Hrivnak presented a proclamation in memory and honor of all Plum residents and families affected by this devastation disease to Plum native Don Furko Jr., affiliate coordinator of the Pittsburgh-area Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Despite improved survival rates for many other forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer remains the only major cancer that still has a five-year relative survival rate in the single digits at six percent. The incidence and death rate for pancreatic …
Friday, August 3, 2012
Survivor and Brookline resident Elizabeth Lopez—among many others—will participate in the annual awareness walk and 5K on Sunday.
When Elizabeth Lopez and her family first participated in PurpleStride Pittsburgh three years ago, she was in a wheelchair. But the 77-year-old Brookline resident-a pancreatic cancer survivor-was able to walk a mile under her own power last year, and hopes to do it again on Sunday. “I am only able to do a mile, but I am able to do that,” Lopez said. “If it wasn’t for my family and friends, I don’t think I would have survived. They were with me from day one and they still are.” PurpleStride Pittsburgh will be hosted by the Pittsburgh affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network this Sunday, Aug. 5. The 5K run and walk will be held in North Park at the North Park Swimming Pool Lot. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the run begins at 9:30 a.…
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Don Furko Jr. has been named the affiliate coordinator of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
A Plum native has turned his grief into good with volunteer work. Don Furko Jr. of Penn Township—he is a Plum native and Plum High School graduate—was named the affiliate coordinator of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network earlier this week. Furko has been volunteering with the organization since last year, about a year after his father, Plum resident Don Furko Sr., died from the disease. Don Furko Sr.—he grew up in Oakmont, raised his family in Plum, and was the former girls' soccer coach at Plum High School—was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 2010. He died less than two months later. "When I gave a part of my father's eulogy, I challenged everyone to help me fight pancreatic cancer," Furko said. …
Andrea Bauer
8:19 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Great article Heidi! Thanks for helping to promote awareness for pancreatic cancer and the great work Don is doing in the Pittsburgh area! more ›