This Jewish teenager raises awareness of the cancer that killed his father

This article was produced as part of the Teen Journalism Fellowship of New York Jewish Week, a program that works with Jewish teenagers across New York City to report on topics that affect their lives.

In the past few months before he died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 51, Marc Becker awakened every day at 6 a.m. to keep up with his push -up. In connection with 20 to 30 of his closest friends, Becker climbed the bottom of his home fitness studio in Manhattan and asked Club members to join him with over 100 push-ups.

“I would wake up in the morning and my mother cheer him:” One more one more thing, you can do it! “, Said his 17-year-old son Hayden Becker.” He was such a fighter and in such a great form that I didn't notice that he died until his last month. ”

In order to honor his father, who died in August 2023, the junior of the Riverdal Country School has set up on a mission: warning team of Ashkenazi -Jews of the quiet murderer who took his father too early.

In the course of his 18-month struggle against cancer, Becer's father found An estimated 55% to 72%According to the National Cancer Institute.

Even the Becker family did not know that the gene mutation can also be fatal in men: the beams of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a much higher risk of prostate and pancreatic cancer than men without the gen. among men with the BRCA2 variation, for example, for example, for example, The risk of these cancer is seven times higher than in men who are not airlines, according to the Huntsman Cancer Institute of the University of Utah.

As it happens, Marc Becker was the second in his family who learned that he was wearing the gene: six months before his diagnosis, pancreatic cancer was diagnosed with his older brother Scott. The two men died months. Both had the BRCA gene.

Although only 0.2% of the world's population is worn, the BRCA mutation is Five times more often in the Jewish communityEspecially among Ashkenasian Jews, according to the Basser Center for BRCA in the Abramson Cancer Center from Penn Medicine.

And so, inspired by his father, whom Hayden Becker describes as a “active philanthropic”, Becker decided to make it the task of preventing future death in the Jewish community. Six months after the death of his father, Becker had an attack plan: the family bought and distributed hundreds of DNA kits to members of the Avenue -Synagogue Park, a conservative community on the Upper East Side, where the Beckers are members. They also stood on the bima and made her hearts and told the story of the murderer who brought Hayden's father to inspire others.

Becker's decision to support himself in her Jewish community was not only symbolic: Samuel Becker, the co-manager of Impact Investing in Apollo, was the chairman of the synagogue and had guided his financing drive to extend to a second building on the upper-eating side. With 2,600 families as members it was also one of the largest Jewish faith communities in North America.

At Yom Kippur Services Last autumn, Becker heard a speech in front of the packed community about the mutated gene. In tears, she said that she hadn't known anything about BRCA until her husband and brother -in -law tested them positively. As reluctantly as she should speak publicly about it, the family was of the opinion that it was their duty to warn the community and give them the chance they never had.

When his mother spoke, Becker helped to arrange tables with DNA kits, while his mother and rabbi were all present to take one. Hundreds of people did it and submitted them to analysis. Six members of the community tested positively for BRCA; A seventh person, the twin sister of one of the members, was also positively tested for BRCA.

Becker, who turned to these seven people, said she all carried out preventive cancer screening tests when they learned that they had the mutation and that they all committed to screenings in the coming years.

This step is important to keep the genetic tests up to date, said Susan Domechek, managing director of the Basser Center. “If a parent has a BRCA mutation, a child has a 50% chance of inheriting them,” she said. “Awareness of genetic tests could help avoid death cancer.”

Hayden Becker refused to tell whether he has the gene mutation or not, citing data protection concerns. Nevertheless, he said the community estimated its efforts. “We got e -mails from people who said:” Thanks for that. It is so incredibly important, “said Becker.” Knowing that we helped these people to save their own life was – I try to find the right word – a relief. “

Becker plans to spread the message to the larger Jewish community by spreading into different synagogues across New York and awareness of BRCA.

In the meantime, Becker said that he feels his father's spirit who carries him forward in life. “My father concentrated on a brand,” said Becker, adding that the older Becker headed a non-profit organization in which children with low incomes helped scholarships for elite high school.

Becker in particular, who is a starter in the Riverdale university soccer team, said he had the presence of his father on the field. “He always screamed and did this thing with his hands, [like] “Keep it out there!”

His team won the division championship last autumn. “I looked around the stands and thought how happy he would have been,” said Becker.

With every genetic test kit that Becker pretends, he honors his father's legacy. Despite his tragic loss, he continues to work hard on his mission to save lives and give more families the chance to celebrate their victories.