Cancer Patient Fundraiser Planned for Saturday at VFW
Marie Kijowski and the officers at VFW Post 4843 get ready for this Saturday’s “Janine Kijowski Race for the Cure”. Those pictured are (front left-to-right) Harold Thevenin, Marie Kijowski, Bob Davila, Bob Schoenecker, (back left-to-right) Aaron Kepple, Paul Magimore, Daryl Ray, Donald King, Bill Hutchison, and Robert Boguslawski
by David Croyle
Marie Kijowski still remembers the conversation she had with her sister-in-law, Janine Boltz Kijowski of Worthington, just before her death.
“Janine was diagnosed with stage 4 large aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Janine was the main insurance company of the family. She held the insurance policy. When she was diagnosed, she could no longer go to work, could no longer pay for their insurance.”
Because she had a pre-existing illness, she could not be insured by most carriers. To pay for the cancer treatments and medications, Marie organized the first fund-raiser, raising $43,000.
“As she was progressively getting ill, and Janine was literally dying, she had said to us, ‘Whatever happens, can you please help the people who helped me. You need to continue.’ So from that day, we have continued to pay it forward.”
Janine’s conversation with Marie continues to be lived out this Saturday, marking the 5th Annual “Janine Kijowski Race for a Cure” at the Ford City VFW.
“People that didn’t even know Janine poured into that event that day and made it a huge success. With her dying words, she made a huge impact on my family and her family to continue to help others that can’t help themselves.”
The Foundation has two events every year - The Race for the Cure and a Super Bowl Sunday Cabbage Rolls, Soup and Bake Sale.
The Janine Kijowski Race for a Cure is held the third Saturday of September every year with all the money going toward two cancer patients selected each year.
The first recipient is chosen by the Foundation.
“Generally when we choose a patient, somebody will come to us from our community and say, ‘I know what you do, can you please help me?’ We pick our first patient and that’s very difficult. The second person we choose, we are always are very much in contact with the (ACMH) Cancer Center. The Cancer Center always chooses the most financially-needed person at that time to help them with gas money, pay for blood work, medication.”
Marie said it is a very difficult decision to have between 12 and 15 people coming to request assistance each year.
“Six people called me for help after we have already chosen the people we are going to do the donation for. I just had a young girl call me from Sarver. She was 14 years old - asking me to help her mother who is very sick with cancer. It’s very hard to tell a 14-year-old that ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help your mother.’ How do you say that to a 14-year-old girl that has read about us and seen my fliers. I was sick to my stomach!”
The first recipient is from the Dayton area.
“One of the people we have chosen to help this year is Donna E. Crytzer. She’s a 73-year-old widow who has been diagnosed with lymphoma. Financially it is very difficult for her with gas money and paying for her lab work. I have never met her, but I have spoken to her over the phone. The other gentleman we are helping is 38 years old from the Kittanning area with inoperable brain cancer. It was brought to me through the attention of the VFW officers requesting that I help him.”
The Race for a Cure this Saturday will be held at the Ford City VFW Post 4843 in Pattonville.
“The race itself - registration starts at 7:30 AM. The race starts promptly at 9AM. Follow the race after the trophies have been handed out, at 12 Noon, we will start our pig roast and we will be having six bands who have chose to donate their time to help us continue to raise money. Some have been with us for five years, and some are new. We have a pig roast followed by the music. The event will end at 7PM.”
Marie anticipates raising as much as $50,000 this year. Last year, they had more than 50 racers and over 600 people for the pig roast. It is $25 to run the Race for a Cure, which includes the tee-shirt and admission to the pig roast and band concerts. To attend the pig roast and band only, a minimum $15 donation is requested.
“This community has been overwhelmingly supportive. The community has always backed us up 100%!” she concluded.
Local News | David Croyle September 14, 2015
