Marina Symcox, a Sarcoma Hero

l Announcements · Everyday Heroes

This Team Sarcoma Everyday Heroes entry was submitted by Mike from San Carlos, California. It was awarded an honorable mention in the competition, and $500 has been donated to GIST research in Marina’s honor.

Two words: Marina Symcox. All of us who survive cancer of any type know that we are not heroes, we are not brave, we are not courageous. We are not a lot of the things that people who see us want us to be. We are people who developed a disease and go through a variety of treatments because we want to survive it. Some succeed. Some do not. What makes someone a sarcoma hero is what one does with the gift of survival.

While her individual cancer survival story is probably well known to the Everyday Heroes volunteers, what qualifies Marina for recognition is the depth and breadth of her commitment to helping people with sarcoma, GIST in particular. She participated in the founding of both of the major GIST patient support groups, the Life Raft Group and Gist Support International. Her all-volunteer time commitment to GSI knows no bounds. Her continued active involvement in the GSI list-serve over the years has helped hundreds, if not thousands, of patients in terms of understanding their disease, seeking out appropriate treatments and providing comfort.

I would estimate that Marina has spent 2-3 hours per day on GIST related activities for a decade or more in addition to being a mother, wife, teacher, and student. The word “tireless” is too overused to describe her. I for one simply do not know where the GIST community would be without her, but I know that it would be substantially less vibrant, less active, and less helpful to those who struggle with this sarcoma.

Marina Symcox is my sarcoma hero.