From grief to activism: Ridley Park mother sprints for a cause

At 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Patricia Guy of Ridley Park will be in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, ready and eager to participate in an annual event that’s deeply meaningful to her.

The Sandy Sprint is a 5k or 10k run/walk to raise funds for ovarian cancer research. It’s the deadliest of all gynecological cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of only 50 percent. It’s estimated over 20,000 women will be diagnosed this year. Many will have reached the advanced stage, since there is no early detection tool yet,

Guy knows the sobering facts all too well. Her daughter Sarah was diagnosed in 2011 at age 30 and died four years later. Sarah’s death turned her mother into an activist for the cause of ovarian cancer research and awareness.

That’s why she’s a strong supporter of the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation, which sponsors the Sandy Sprint and other activities and programs.

“I got involved in Rollman through Sarah,” said Pat. “She participated in Rollman programs and found them very helpful. I went to meetings and other activities with her- and now I continue to be involved as part of her legacy.”

Founded 17 years ago, the foundation is named in honor of Sandy Rollman, a young mother who at age 32 was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She underwent grueling treatment, but died six months later.

Her oncology nurse was Robin Cohen of Bryn Mawr.

“She struggled and fought harder than anyone I’d ever known,” said Cohen. “When she died, we just couldn’t let it end there.”

Instead, together with Sandy Rollman’s sister Adriana Way, Cohen founded the Rollman Foundation to raise awareness and provide support and education for this deadly disease.

Besides fund raising, the foundation sponsors educational programs and support groups for women with ovarian cancer.

One of those women was Sarah Guy. Like so many victims of this disease, she was diagnosed only at an advanced stage.

“First, she was misdiagnosed,” said her mother. “By the time she did get a correct diagnosis, it was stage

3.

“The news was devastating. But I had to stay positive because she that’s how Sarah was. Right after the diagnosis, she said to us, ‘Mom and Dad, we’re not going to ask why this happened to me. We’re going to focus on conquering this disease.’”

She waged a determined fight.

“When major surgery didn’t work, she tried every chemo regimen available,” said her mother. “But her type of cancer was resistant to chemo.”

Sarah Guy also went beyond the medical.

“She wanted to find ways to connect with people who had the same issues she had,” said her mother.

When Sarah learned about the Rollman Foundation support groups, she promptly made plans to attend a meeting.

“She found it very rewarding to meet and hear from women with ovarian cancer and how they were coping,” said Pat Guy.

After that, she was a regular participant.

Sarah Guy also created a unique program, “Notes to Researchers.” She felt that researchers didn’t get the recognition they deserved, “explained her mother. “This program would help connect patients with researchers to thank them. Sarah felt it very important that they know their work is recognized and that patients feel grateful.”

She won a grant for this program.

“But when she was too ill to implement it, she gave it to the Rollman Foundation,” said Guy.

The team will number between 40 and 50 family members and friends, many wearing Sarah Smiles t-shirts and buttons. The team includes Pat Guy’s husband Dan, her adult son Danny and daughter Jennifer, and three grandkids Zachary, Alex and Ellie.

Also on the team will be relatives including Sarah’s cousin Alison Ashenfelter, who helped organize the team, just as she did last year, as well as many of Sarah’s friends from near and far.

Just as last year, the team members expect to be inspired by the huge turnout, the spirit and the camaraderie of this event, evidence that so many others support this cause.

“I want to continue Sarah’s legacy,” she said. “We want to bring awareness about this disease and advocate for research that’s still needed to find a tool for early detection.”