Women Leading in Central MA: Cancer Activist Audrey Kurlan-Marcy
Monday, May 20, 2013
Audrey Kurlan-Marcy has changed the face of cancer research and treatment as well as directly helped cancer patients.
SW: This journey began for you nearly three decades ago with Hope Lodge (a free lodging for cancer patients seeking treatment in Boston and Worcester). How did that come about?
AKM: I was singing with my band at a club in Clinton back in 1983 and was approached by the area manger for the American Cancer Society to sing at a benefit for Hope Lodge. Soon I was asked to join the board of Hope Lodge when it opened. They wanted to add some younger people. I ended up serving as president of the board for 12 years. I never looked back.
SW: You not only found a passion for helping cancer patients but also a passion for doing it as a volunteer. Why did you choose that route?
AKM: I could never be paid enough to do the things I do! I would burn out if I was being paid to do what I do. Ten years ago, I made the decision with the support of my husband to be a full-time volunteer and to focus on my calling. As a volunteer I can ask for money and for people’s time because I am giving it everything I have got. Being paid to follow my passion would change everything.
SW: Our paths have crossed throughout the years because of our respective work with cancer causes. The Pancreatic Cancer Alliance began when I assisted Tom Cole—then the marketing director of the Telegram & Gazette—to work with UMass Medical School to create a program for pancreatic cancer. He had just lost his mother to pancreatic cancer. Shortly after that, he asked you to chair the Alliance and wonderful things have happened. Which of your tremendous accomplishments are you most proud of?
AKM: When we began UMass did not have a pancreatic cancer program and now they have a very well-respected one. At the time, patients were only living 4-6 months after diagnosis. We watched the pain and suffering they went through. I also lost my father-in-law to pancreatic cancer. Now with the clinical trials underway people are being offered a much better quality of life and a longer life span—now over a year, on average. We are one of only six hospitals in the country with this trial. I would say that we are now at the stage of development where breast cancer was 30 years ago, but we are seeing advances.
SW: What other work are you involved with?
AKM: I still support Hope Lodge and I am so proud of how far we have come. We will have 50 homes around the country by 2015. We house cancer patients free of charge and drive them back and forth to treatment. I have also done Taste of the Nation for 25 years. It is the original premiere culinary event designed to feed the hungry and Rachel’s Table and Worcester Country Food Bank are the organizations that receive the funding. We raise $40,000 to $50,000 annually. The Pancreatic Cancer Alliance events are still very much a part of my year.
SW: You have decided to take another step after all of your work for others and form your own organization. What is Pink Revolution and how did the name come about?
AKM: I am tired of watching so many people make money from Pink off the back of breast cancer survivors and knowing that money never makes it down to the local organizations. We need to support the amazing physicians in our own backyard. Pink Revolution, works with the UMass Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center to fund researchers and help individual patients on a day-to-day basis with support services. I founded it with Rebecca Soulliere, who is a breast cancer survivor. We just finished our second 8-week fitness class designed to support cancer survivors in all stages. Pink Revolution will definitely grow because of tremendous support from the community. We will soon become a 501(c)3 and are growing at a pace that will allow us to deliver on our promises.
SM: How has finding and following your passion affected your life?
AKM: I have seen miracles happen along the way. Every day I get up and make the bed instead of being stuck in it. I am healthy. I realize how fortunate I am. I have learned so much about compassion and understanding through watching the struggle people endure so courageously when cancer is part of the equation. I now know that if you can dream it, believe, it and see it, you can make it happen.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Susan Wagner is known for driving events, initiatives, launches, and openings for the healthcare, sporting, and entertainment fields through her company Susan Wagner PR. She consults in the development and execution of a broad range of outreach programs & public relations initiatives that effectively educate, inform, and build relationships with targeted stakeholder groups. In this challenging economy, Wagner also offers affordable start-up packages to new and emerging businesses and organizations.
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