My name is Pamela Warshavsky.  I live in a high rise building in Queens, NY with my 4 cats.  I have been volunteering for the American Cancer Society since 2006.  I am a volunteer, a caregiver, and an ELT member.  I am also the NYS ACT Lead for ACS CAN, a Hope Lodge host, a freelance recruiter for Bark For Life and Making Strides for Breast Cancer, and I have been a staff partner with ACS.

At 16, I heard the word cancer for the first time.  My parents told me that my 30-year-old cousin had passed away.  At 17, my close friend was battling cancer, and she passed away just before her 19th birthday.  Prior to becoming a volunteer, 2 of my loved ones were diagnosed with breast cancer.  This is when I took on a role as a caregiver.   From transportation to sitting in the hospital during treatments; from lending an ear to voicing an encouraging word – I understood the importance of my role.

During this time, I applied for a job with ACS.  This was a learning and growing experience I will never forget.  I attended my first Relay For Life in 2008. It was an experience like no other.  I said to someone recently that I grew up extremely introverted and shy.  ACS has given me a calling and a voice in the fight against cancer.

My volunteer work is important to me and has helped shape who I am.  There is still a lot of work to do, so I am not stopping. Seeing the everyday advancements in cancer research and new medications is inspiring and gives me hope. I am determined to continue the fight until there is a cure.  I will remain hopeful, continue to fundraise and volunteer to be a Voice for the ones that need me to be.  As we with all of us, our hope is in a cure.