United Against Cancer
For the upcoming Runyon 5K, Steve Stears has enlisted a team that is “United Against Cancer.” Already 17 members strong, the team is in first place raising funds for the Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium on August 3rd.
“There are some great cancer charities out there, but I like the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation because it focuses on innovation, the research and development aspects that enable people to drive their ideas forward,” says the 44-year-old from Nanuet in Rockland County.
Originally from the south coast of England, Stears has lived in the United States for the last decade. As Director/Team Leader for Manufacturing at Pfizer, he is responsible for Biotech Operations at the Pearl River site.
“I am proud to say that I’ve always been associated with the manufacture of oncology products and seen the impact they've made,” he says. “There is so much opportunity to do more in this space.”
On a personal level, cancer has touched those around him. “I lost an uncle to cancer in 2008, my mother in 2011 to breast cancer, and my father at the end of last year to lung cancer,” he says. “It’s a compelling reason to get off your butt and do something.”
This August 3rd will mark the third time he has taken part in the Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium. While he’d signed up in 2011, his mother passed away during that time so he wasn’t able to participate, although his wife, Nicola, did.
“Nicola said it was a unique experience,” he says.
While he and his wife initially divided into two teams – his wife’s known as Shirley’s Angels, after his mother – they have since merged into one to run the race and fight the battle together.
Colleagues from Pfizer's Research and Development and Manufacturing units are among the team members (and he hopes the team’s membership will grow to 25 by the time of the event).
And, he adds, “In addition to the Yankee fans, we have Mets fans running, Red Sox fans running. It’s an eclectic mix.”
When he steps into the stadium in August, he will be motivated by the promise of future innovation, progress supported by Damon Runyon.
“That is my main motivation,” he says. “It is important that people keep coming back to the stadium for this event, or participating as donors. It’s a great experience and I encourage more people to do this.”
You can support his team by clicking here.
