Ron Myrvik's Cancer Fund

Early this summer our good friend and colleague Ron Myrvik was diagnosed with throat and lymphatic neck cancer. He has completed the first round of chemo and radiation and hours of intravenous hydration. His doctors are optimistic, but will not know if the cancer has been eradicated for several months. Ron told us that  “Finding out I had throat & lymphatic neck cancer was a real shock that I wasn’t prepared for. There’s no history of cancer in my Norwegian American Family.”  

But it was not just the shock of the diagnosis. Like many people in this country hit with major medical bills, he was not prepared for the financial shock. Ron desperately needs our financial help.  His cancer diagnosis and treatment came at a moment when he had virtually no savings. He has not been able to work since June and it’s not clear when he will be able to. He has Medicare, which will cover 80% of doctors’ bills.  But he has to cover the not-so-small 20% balance, plus the prescriptions he will continue to need and car service he needed (and needs) to get to and from the hospital.  On top of his medical bills are his living expenses. His Social Security does not even cover rent.  A few friends have been able to extend loans to help, but that is only increasing his debt as he looks at months of recovery.

Ron’s many awards as film producer, editor and cameraman, include the New York Festival, the Telly Awards, the Cine Golden Eagle, and the Houston International Film Festival. He has worked on commercials, documentaries, TV shows, music videos, industrials, fashion videos, and feature films. He has filmed celebrities from Douglas Fairbanks Jr, and Mstislav Rostropovitch to  J-Lo, David Bowie and Henry Kissinger.  But, in our rapidly changing youth dominated media landscape, that plus  $2.75 will get you a ride on our collapsing NY City subway.

Beyond his decades of outstanding work, his love of movies and the opera, what is so wonderful about Ron Myrvik is how generous he is with his time and considerable skills.  He is always there to mentor (or critique) a young filmmaker and volunteer his skills for free or next to free for progressive organizations and causes.

We are relying on your generosity to help Ron through this medical and financial crisis.

Thanks very much.

Brian Drolet and Joan Laskoff