For the seventh year, Carolyn Newkirk is running the Pittsburgh Marathon in memory of her daughter’s friend’s mother, Christina Radzilowicz, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2013.

Over the last six years, friends, family, and colleagues helped raise over $19,244 in Christina’s name while also raising awareness for ovarian cancer research. It means a lot to Christina’s family to honor their wife/mother’s legacy like this. Carolyn also runs to honor Christina’s family.

The 2019 Pittsburgh Marathon is on May 5 and, this year, Carolyn is fundraising for Magee-Womens Research Institute’s research on gynecologic cancer. Magee researchers are working on new screening and prevention tools as well as more efficient treatment for ovarian cancer. Carolyn feels passionate about the research MWRI conducts as well as the patient care at Magee.

Christina was an extraordinary woman, wife, mother, and friend. Please help Carolyn remember her by donating in Christina’s memory by calling Colleen A. Straub at 412-641-8978.

Metastatic breast cancer claims over 40,000 lives every year. Magee-Womens, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguin Alumni Association, wants to change that.

The Pittsburgh Penguin Alumni have created the Nicole Meloche Memorial Breast Cancer Fund in memory of one of their own, Nicole Meloche. She holds a special place in the hearts of the alumni and through their efforts they are funding a research project that will better understand the why and how of metastatic breast cancer.

Nicole Meloche was just 39 years old when she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 1990. At the time, she and her husband, Gilles Meloche, former Pittsburgh Penguin, and coach and then amateur scout for the Pens, lived in Montreal with their two young children, Eric and Annie. Nicole bravely fought her breast cancer and amazed her doctors when she went into remission. She was a champion.

To those around her, she was the model of courage, perseverance and determination. Unfortunately, the cancer metastasized and on November 18, 1993, Nicole lost her gallant fight.

She didn’t get to see her son grow up and play for the Pittsburgh Penguins, just like his father. She didn’t get to see her daughter mature into a beautiful woman, wife and mother. Nicole didn’t get to see her four grandchildren and see Gilles celebrate 30 years with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a player, coach and scout.

The Nicole Meloche Memorial Breast Cancer Fund will support metastatic breast cancer research at Magee-Womens Research Institute. Donate to this fund by calling Colleen A. Straub at 412-641-8978.

For the past several years, Joe Scarpaci, Jr. has “Biked for Breast Cancer” in memory of his mother, Josie. Josie, once a prominent real estate agent in Mount Lebanon, PA, lost her battle to breast cancer in 1998.

The Josie Scarpaci Breast Health Access Fund was created to help provide educational resources for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. So far, more than $57,500 has been raised in Josie’s name to allow Magee to provide a comprehensive resource binder to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The binders include information about treatment options, procedures, and medical terms and provide space for the patient to take notes about her treatment and keep track of important details to improve her outcome and provide the support each patient needs to regain her health. Donate to this fund by calling Colleen A. Straub at 412-641-8978.

For more information on My Magee Campaigns, contact Jazmin Rosenberger at rosenbergerj3@upmc.edu or call 412-641-6091