Over 61,000 women will be diagnosed with uterine/endometrial cancer this year and sadly, nearly 11,000 will pass away, mostly because the disease went unnoticed until it reached an advanced stage. So was the case for Peggy Pettinato.
“My mother was diagnosed in May 2014 with uterine (endometrial) cancer,” says Natalie O’Hara, the youngest of Peggy’s four children. “The disease had already progressed to Stage IV by the time symptoms appeared and the cancer was diagnosed. She underwent surgery as well as chemotherapy, both the state of the art at the time, however these treatments were not successful and the cancer took her life on Jan. 16, 2015. In seeking a way to memorialize her the year following her death, we had difficulty finding any information about studies being done on early detection or innovative treatments of endometrial cancer to which we could contribute in her memory. Because of that, our family has created a foundation in her memory to fight the devastating disease that unfortunately claimed her life. Discussions about the foundation began in 2016; however our first official meeting with our committee was in early 2017.”
That’s when Peggy’s Pathway for Women’s Cancer Care was born with two objectives in mind; early detection and innovative treatment.
“We have partnered with the prestigious Fox Chase Cancer Center, where the research for Innovative Treatment is already underway, and on which we anticipate a published scientific report this fall,” states Peggy’s husband Bob Pettinato Sr. “In our second year, we seek to make further progress on this objective and to also initiate the Early Detection phase as well. These are “pilot studies” which we are confident will result in future partnerships which will greatly leverage our “seed money” into major research that will benefit the awareness of and outcomes for this underfunded form of cancer.”
The Foundation’s goal is to raise at least $100,000 annually to help fund research.
One day, Bob was talking to Jim Barrett about his family and friends starting up the foundation and Jim further explained Road Scholar’s awareness trailers and the creation of one for Peggy’s Pathway. Steve Tolerico, a committee member of the Foundation and President of IDGroup, designed the truck, which contains Peggy’s picture.
“I think Road Scholar’s awareness program is a terrific program for both your company as well as the benefactor charities!” says Natalie. “It brings awareness to the various causes you feature throughout your coverage area as a literal travelling billboard. It also sets your company apart as charitable and active in your community, in addition to providing your core competency quality freight services to your customers.”
Learn more about Peggy’s Pathway at https://www.peggyspathway.com/ and stop by the Country Club of Scranton on October 19th for their 2nd annual fundraising event.
