Help Bay Area Legend
Greg Papa Beat Cancer
"I almost lost my life."
These are the unforgettable words of Greg Papa, the beloved, iconic voice of Bay Area sports for the 49ers, Raiders, Warriors, Giants, and A's. After decades of bringing fans unforgettable sports memories, Greg is now in the fight of his life against Acute Lymphoblastic B-cell Leukemia (ALL), an aggressive blood cancer. Greg stepped away from the broadcast booth in February to start a life-saving stem cell transplant process at
UCSF. The long hospital stay and year-long recovery have created an overwhelming financial burden.
Today, we’re pleased to share some wonderful news: Greg is cancer-free.
His bone marrow transplant at UCSF was successful thanks to the extraordinary gift of stem cells from his sister, who was a perfect match. But as many transplant patients discover, beating cancer is only the beginning of the journey. Over the past several months, Greg has endured a series of life-threatening complications that nearly claimed his life. What was expected to be a month of recovery became 78 days in the hospital, most of them spent in intensive care.
During that time, Greg battled severe infections, pneumonia, the collapse of both lungs, multiple blood clots, and respiratory failure that required a ventilator to keep him alive. At one point, his physicians advised him to get his affairs in order.
“The surgeon came back and said, “I’m going to try one more time.” Meanwhile, another doctor was in my ear saying, “If this doesn’t work, we’re putting you on a ventilator immediately.” I was thinking, I’m going to die. I couldn’t talk. Every breath was a struggle, like I was drowning.”
Thankfully, through exceptional medical care, unwavering determination, and the support of so many, Greg fought his way home. While he is grateful to be cancer-free, his recovery is far from over. Greg continues pulmonary rehabilitation and is becoming increasingly less dependent on supplemental oxygen each day. His doctors do not know how much lung function he will recover or whether he will ever be able to return to the broadcast booth. His days are filled with medications, injections, insulin monitoring, rehabilitation, and frequent medical appointments as he continues rebuilding his strength. For many people, the end of cancer treatment feels like the finish line. In reality, for bone marrow transplant patients, it is often the beginning of a long and expensive recovery.
The Challenge: Saving a Life Comes with Enormous Costs
Although insurance covers much of Greg’s medical treatment, it does not cover many of the costs that people face after a transplant. At the same time, Greg is unable to return to work, so he has no income. Funds from this campaign will go directly toward Greg's medical treatment and recovery expenses, including:
• Medical deductibles, co-pays, and uncovered medications
• Home health care and rehabilitation not covered by insurance
• Special nutritional needs required for transplant recovery
• Transportation and countless other expenses associated with long-term recovery
• Everyday living expenses while Greg is unable to work.
“My doctors told me that 95% of people would have died from what I went through. They looked me in the eye and said, “We don’t know whether you will ever get out of here.” My recovery was remarkable. So, I will not say I cannot do it.”
Thank you for standing with Greg for every step of his journey. Because of your generosity, prayers, and words of encouragement, Greg has felt the support of an incredible community throughout the most difficult journey of his life.
Donate today and share Greg's story with friends, family, and fellow Bay Area sports fans. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps Greg continue this long road back.
With gratitude,
The David Benzer Strike Out Fear Foundation
For more information on Greg's recovery, see Eric Branch's article in The Chronicle:
#HelpGregPapaBeatCancer #Greg Papa #StrikeOutFear #49ers #Connection Heals
Gifts From Donors Like You
Lynn Hammerschidt, President & David Benzer, Founder & CEO
Uplift the mission of
The David Benzer Strike Out Fear Foundation
to build a bridge from fear to hope for people diagnosed with cancer.
We support the emotional and spiritual needs of patients to sustain the spirit from the
moment of diagnosis, during treatment, and into survivorship by:
• Providing one-on-one support to patients during treatment.
• Helping patients find second opinions and the best treatment for their cancer.
• Creating life-affirming environments in cancer clinic waiting rooms across the country —
Since 2011, the Foundation has impacted the therapeutic experience for more than
195,000 new cancer patients and 1,100,000 patient visits.
• Holding Strike Out Fear nights at major league ballparks for patients, caregivers, and medical teams.
For more information, visit strikeoutfear.org