Griffith Family Foundation:
The Griffith Family Foundation was founded by Cathy Griffith and her
sons in honor of their father Greg Griffith, who lost a courageous
battle with pancreatic cancer in 2011. Donations to the Foundation
support research to find a cure for this terrible and deadly disease.
The Foundation seeks to provide medical, psychological, holistic, and
spiritual support to those suffering from the disease, as well providing
solace and fellowship for families and friends. The Griffith Family
Foundation’s signature initiative is Sideline Cancer®, which was started
in 2012 by a motivated group of students to help advance pancreatic
cancer research.
Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund:
Doreen Perks of the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, lost her
husband to cancer and started Fund to help ease the financial burden of
individuals and families in the local community who are battling cancer
by providing funding for basic necessities so their focus is on
treatment and recovery. Since its inception in 2006, the Fund has
raised and allocated over $1,000,000 to local cancer patients facing
financial hardship in Blair, Centre, Clearfield and Huntingdon Counties.
The Fund helps provide short-term financial assistance to cancer
patients who are unable to pay for basic necessities such as rent,
utilities, and food while they are undergoing cancer treatments.
Dr. Laura Olienyk:
Dr.
Laura Olienyk is the Chief of Pharmacy at the James E. Van Zandt VA
Medical Center in Altoona. She will present on pharmaceutical advances
to treatment of cancer.
Brother Shamus McGrenra, T.O.R.:
Brother Shamus McGrenra, T.O.R., is well-known at Saint Francis
University as the Director of International Admissions. This Franciscan
friar, who is a cancer survivor, is as much known for his smiling,
positive attitude as he is for his annual bicycle ride to benefit the
campus' Dorothy Day Center, an outreach provider to the region. Brother
Shamus wants cancer patients to know there is always hope.