Rays of Hope 2023 Winner: Larry Gershon

We are excited to announce our 2023 Rays of Hope Award winner, Larry Gershon! This award honors the late Richard Heimler. Richard was a GO2 for Lung Cancer board member and a powerful voice of hope in the lung cancer community. Awarded annually, the Rays of Hope award recognizes a person who has demonstrated leadership and inspires hope in people with lung cancer from their own experience with the disease. 

Larry was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2013 after experiencing asthma symptoms with a cold. He went to urgent care where the doctor prescribed antibiotics, a steroid inhaler and a chest X-ray to rule out pneumonia. Even though he had no other symptoms that would have indicated lung cancer and he never smoked cigarettes, the X-ray showed a small spot on his upper right lung. Further testing confirmed a stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis.  

Larry believes he was fortunate to find GO2 early in his experience with lung cancer. Thanks to the one-on-one support he received, participating in local events and watching GO2’s Lung Cancer Living Room, Larry became an educated advocate for his own treatment and found a community of people who understood what he was going through. 

Larry now works tirelessly to aid the lung cancer community. On behalf of GO2, he has spoken on numerous panels, served as a patient advisor for palliative care organizations and worked with veterans at risk and diagnosed with lung cancer. In addition, Larry has been a studious and committed CDMRP reviewer within the Department of Defense’s Lung Cancer Research Program.  

The knowledge he gained from GO2 also inspired Larry to become a Phone Buddy and help other lung cancer patients and caregivers become proactive and educated participants in their own care decisions. Larry’s very presence as a 10-year survivor of stage 4 lung cancer is a hopeful reminder for other people living with the disease that outcomes are improving for many patients. 

Larry is always happy to share his advice and knowledge with people he meets at GO2 activities including our monthly Living Room and Gathering HOPE events, annual San Francisco 5K and gala. Larry wants to—and does—help everyone he meets who is feeling lost, confused or depressed following a diagnosis. He is dedicated to helping people feel heard, helping them find information and resources to understand lung cancer and helping them to feel part of a bigger community of people who care about them. 

Larry is never one to take credit for the good work he does for the community. Instead, Larry always says, “I just want to help other people the way that Bonnie and the rest of GO2 has helped me.” And indeed, he is. Larry has helped so many people in the lung cancer community to find hope after a diagnosis and be educated and empowered advocates for their care.  

Larry accepted the Rays of Hope award at GO2’s annual Lung Cancer Voices Summit on Tuesday, March 21 from GO2 President & CEO Laurie Fenton Ambrose and Rachel Heimler, Richard’s daughter.  

Larry has been married for almost 50 years to his wife, Thayer. He is also a proud father, grandfather and a retired Navy veteran who lives in Palo Alto, CA.