Pietrina Girimonte, Community Engagement Chair, Northern New Jersey Affiliate

Home Get Involved Volunteer Volunteer Appreciation Month Pietrina Girimonte, Community Engagement Chair, Northern New Jersey Affiliate

vam-Pietrina-GirimontePietrina loves to engage with people on a personal level, encouraging them to not shy away from pancreatic cancer if they’ve been affected by it. After losing her father to the disease, she decided to push forward by volunteering and making a difference in the lives of others.

“Giving back has allowed me to make peace and move forward in doing my part in the fight against pancreatic cancer. I meet people who I otherwise may not have come in contact with. I love interacting with patients, caregivers, families, physicians and oncologists. Those connections truly open people’s minds to the reality and the harsh statistics. The more people act to change the course of this disease, the stronger our influence becomes.”

Pietrina said that volunteers “just get each other,” and the mutual understanding between each other is priceless. “We share our stories of grief and loss, and we forge ahead. We all want the same result: to double the survival by 2020.”