Even after 41 years in education Ron Kodish never stops trying to raise awareness and educate people. The 1972 graduate from Penn State has always led a healthy and active lifestyle. He teaches his students at the Pennsylvania College of Technology to do the same.
He and his wife have also made a lifetime commitment to helping different causes that are important to their family through athletic events like a 12 mile running race for the MS society and a bicycle race for heart disease.
In 2009, a different cause hit close to his heart and home.
Kodish’s big brother Ray “Bear” was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. Kodish is the second of four siblings. He and his big brother Ray were just 19 months apart and they were the best of friends.
“Ray was a school teacher, coach and athletic director. He hadn’t felt well. They thought he may have a cold, bronchitis or even pneumonia but tests found stage IV lung cancer. The diagnosis was devastating to the family. Ray had just retired the year before. He hadn’t had the chance to fully enjoy his retirement.” Kodish says.
The treatments that were available hadn’t worked for Ray. Kodish’s brother had a positive attitude but he noticed the fight was taken out of him as time wore on. Chemotherapy, radiation, dietary changes were a lot to endure and to Kodish it was a sad several months for his brother Ray.
Ray “Bear” Kodish passed away from lung cancer in 2009 at the age of 60.
Even though Ron Kodish spent as much time as he could with his brother, he felt like he needed to do more.
There are 14 million cancer survivors in the United States, but only 3% of them are lung cancer survivors. Kodish didn’t feel like that was ok. He wanted to raise awareness about the deadliest cancer killer and the lack of funding lung cancer gets compared to other cancers.
There are also misconceptions about lung cancer and a stigma on those that get it.
“A lot of people don’t know how to deal with the situation after someone they know is diagnosed with lung cancer and they stay away. The stigma has impacted me. Yes, life is about choices and ramifications. But the fact is anyone can get lung cancer and no one deserves to die from it. Lung cancer is one of those causes were people hesitate to give to because of the stigma. That’s just not right.” says Kodish.
Had there been more treatment options or a cure, Kodish thought, his brother might still be alive.
Ray’s wife Nancy did an event that benefited LUNGevity and that’s how Kodish first learned about the LUNGevity Foundation and their work funding lung cancer research and supporting patients and families impacted by the disease. Kodish had been an athlete and cyclist for most of his life. He thought there must be something he could do to honor his brother.
Time passed and Kodish decided he would cycle across Pennsylvania in memory of his brother Ray.
“Bike for Bear” is a 400 mile ride across the northern tier of Pennsylvania. The ride, through much of the beautiful Pennsylvania Wilds, will be done in memory of his brother, Ray “Bear” Kodish.
“It will mean a lot to a lot of people. Even after a knee replacement and having that heal and training to ride again, an extended ride has always been on my bucket list. Doing this ride for Ray would honor him and it would mean a lot to a lot of people.”
It will also raise a lot of awareness about this disease that claims more lives than any other cancer.
Kodish says, “Not many pedal strokes go by that I don’t have my brother on my mind.”
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To learn more about “Bike for Bear” and to read Kodish’s blog account of his journey in memory and honor of his brother click here.
To learn more about LUNGevity click here.