SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - When Barbara Niznik went to the doctor complaining about a possible cracked rib and found out it was Stage 4 lung cancer, her family’s world shifted. 

Due to the late-stage diagnosis, Barbara Niznik passed away a few months later in January 2014. 

To manage her grief, Niznik’s daughter, Laura Niznik-Williams, got busy.

“I wanted to do something to help other families” she said. She attended San Francisco’s GO2 for Lung Cancer race/walk and spoke to the organizers about bringing it to Sacramento. 

On April 5, Niznik-Williams and others celebrated 10 years of the GO2 for Lung Cancer race/walk in William Land Regional Park.  

Participants arrived in good spirits on the sunny spring morning in group t-shirts. Teams had names such as Stephens Striders, Team Moni and Hanry the Great. They all came to support lung cancer survivors, those who passed and those in the fight right now. 

Colleen Brinkman was surrounded by her kids and grandkids in shirts emblazoned with “Barneys Cream Puff Warriors.” It was a bittersweet day for them as Barney Brinkman’s cancer had come back. Brinkman’s wife, Colleen, explained, “He is at the hospital getting an MRI today, and we are here for him.” 

Before the race/walk began, participants milled about various informational tables. The White Ribbon Project was there to highlight Lung Cancer Awareness Month (November) and fight the stigma by reminding people that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. 

Laura Niznik-Williams said, “The most common question I get asked is, did my mother smoke? She stopped smoking over 40 years before. I found out lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the U.S., yet it doesn’t receive a lot of research funding.”  Part of that may be due to misconceptions. 

Niznik says, “Smoking isn’t always the reason for lung cancer. And it’s still not clear what the causes are. Anyone can receive a diagnosis; young people or old, different ethnicities, men and women, smokers and non-smokers.”

In fact, when Niznik-Williams learned genetics was a possible factor, she called her father.

“I asked him, ‘Hey, Dad, why don’t you get a low-dose CT scan?’” Robert Niznik listened to his daughter. In 2018, he was diagnosed with Stage 1B lung cancer. 

Luckily, it was caught early, and a successful surgery has helped Robert remain cancer-free. 

Early screening is a game-changer. The Niznik team wore shirts proclaiming themselves as Barbs Amazing Racers. Niznik-Williams explained, “My mom used to love watching The Amazing Race. We chose this team name in her memory.” 

Cheers and whoops filled the crowd as lung cancer survivors were brought up to be celebrated and show that the disease can be beaten. For those dealing with difficult times, it was an inspiring moment. 

Niznik-Williams offers advice for others struggling with a cancer diagnosis: Build a network of people who can help. 

The task of caring for a loved one with cancer can be physically and emotionally draining. Robert Niznik was Barbara’s primary caregiver. Niznik-Williams and her sister juggled schedules to help. They booked doctors’ appointments and took notes during medical visits. It eased the burden and made a difference. Caregivers can become overwhelmed and miss important details during discussions with medical professionals. 

Niznik-Williams said, “After a visit, we realized Mom and Dad would forget something during the appointment. We reviewed our notes and followed up with questions later.”

The GO2 organization provides various supportive resources, such as monthly live-streamed “living room events” where advocates, families and experts talk. Gathering HOPE is a monthly virtual group to help those who have been diagnosed and their caregivers. People share stories and build valuable soul-lifting connections. 

The advocacy arm of GO2 educates people how to contact their state and federal officials to request more funding for lung cancer research. And GO2 for Lung Cancer hosts events throughout the United States to build awareness, raise money for funding, and network. 

Every effort makes a difference. During the event, Niznik-Williams surmised, “I think since we started GO2 in Land Park, we’ve raised over half a million dollars for lung cancer research.” She continues to find ways to participate. She recently signed up for a genetic lung cancer study with a friend. The gifts from her advocacy keep coming. A friend who’s walked at previous GO2 events with Niznik-Williams found her own mother recently received a lung cancer diagnosis. The positive news was her friend immediately knew where to turn for assistance. 

“This is a reality,” Niznik-Williams explains, “many people think it won’t impact them, but it does.”

When someone needs support after a lung cancer diagnosis, Laura Niznik-Williams and her GO2 family will be there to walk with them. 

For more about the GO2 for Lung Cancer organization, visit go2.org.