SCRIPPS RANCH
NEWS
July 2019 | Scripps Ranch News
www.scrippsranchnews.com
By Maria Leyva
W
hen two Scripps Ranch residents each lost a parent to pancreatic cancer, they came across the Pancreatic Action Network, an organization focused on providing services to pancreatic cancer patients and raising funds for research. Years later, they are both volunteering with the organization. Angela Essex-Hans and Lisa Kobzi are among the group of volunteers planning and promoting the Pancreatic Action Network’s annual PurpleStride San Diego walk/run. The event will take place at De Anza Cove in Mission Bay on Sept. 28. “It’s a way to honor my mom and it’s a way to help other people. I like doing what I’m doing. I like getting involved in the walk,” Essex-Hans said. The goal of the walk is to raise money for research and patient services, Essex-Hans said. According to the Pancreatic Action Network website, the organization offers a variety of free services to patients with this form of cancer. These services range
Scripps Ranch resident Angela Essex-Hans is the San Diego volunteer outreach chair for the Pancreatic Action Network and will walk with her team, Gisela’s Angels, in the 2019 PurpleStride San Diego walk/run. (courtesy of Angela Essex-Hans)
from matching the patient with local doctors to matching them with clinical trials. Pancreatic cancer is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States around the year 2020. Today, this form of cancer has a 9 percent survival rate, according to the Pancreatic Action Network. “The word cancer will change anyone’s life. If you put pancreatic in front of it, you know your chance of survival is so small and it’s just an awful diagnosis. What makes you crazy is that it’s an awful diagnosis and then the funding’s not there,” Essex-Hans said. This annual walk/run is
also hosted in other cities and is the organization’s main fundraiser, Kobzi said. Last year, the San Diego event raised more than $300,000. “At the end of the day, it’s really important that the money is being used for what it’s supposed to be used for and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Essex-Hans said. Essex-Hans, a Scripps Ranch resident for more than 20 years, learned about the Pancreatic Action Network after her mother died, a few months after her cancer diagnosis. She has been volunteering with the organization for the last five years. This year will be her first year as the San Diego
volunteer outreach chair. As part of that position, Essex-Hans said she reaches out to doctors and oncologists to get the organization’s name out. She has also been focusing on securing donations for the event and recruiting teams and volunteers. At the event, Essex-Hans will walk with her team, Gisela’s Angels, in honor of her mother. She will also work to recruit more volunteers into the San Diego affiliate location. “Until we get rid of this ugly disease, there’s so much to do and every little bit will help,” she said. Lisa Kobzi, a Scripps Ranch resident for 18 years, came across the Pancreatic Action Network through research when her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died three months later. Kobzi said this event impacts her in more than one way as she has known multiple people who have died from this form of cancer. “I know more people that have passed away from pancreatic cancer than any other type of cancer,” she said. See CANCER WALK, Page 4
NEWS
Locals help promote pancreatic cancer walk
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Maienschein allocates funds for local park improvements
California Assemblyman Brian Maienschein announced on June 24 that he has allocated $5 million from the state budget to three public service programs and projects in the 77th Assembly District. The majority of those funds will be directed toward Jerabek Park, 10150 Avenida Magnifica, in Scripps Ranch. Upgrades at Jerabek Park will be funded with $4 million provided to install American Disabilities Act (ADA) infrastructure improvements. Public park facilities are required to meet ADA standards which are federally regulated in order to install any new park equipment. “Adults and children with disabilities will now have the same access to public park space as everyone else,” Maienschein said. “Now, the community will be able to get even more use out of this park.”
Bella Ross
Reporter will lead The Daily Aztec
Bella Ross, a freelance reporter for Scripps Ranch News, is gearing up to lead San Diego State University’s (SDSU) daily student newspaper, The Daily Aztec. Ross an SDSU student double majoring in journalism and political science, was selected as the new editor-in-chief of the newspaper. She began working at The Daily Aztec in the news section in fall 2017. She also worked as an intern for inewsource, and at KPBS on its online community events calendar. She eventually hopes to report on national politics for a large newspaper one day.
STEP earns Impact Award
The North San Diego Business Chamber of Commerce awarded Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) with an Impact Award at its recent Celebration See NEWS UPDATES, Page 4