NEW YORK– Peter Kirk, CEO of Sermo and Founder of Be Your Possible, has been named a PharmaVoice 100 honoree. This annual list recognizes the most inspiring people in the life sciences industry. Peter is included for his work and commitment to raise $1 million for medical research by running 1,000 half-marathons before the 10th anniversary of his blood stem cell transplant. Be Your Possible’s mission to inspire others and fundraise for research was born from Kirk’s own harrowing experience of surviving Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The flagship event of the organization is his annual fundraiser “Run with Peter,” in which physicians choose to run or walk for a medical organization of their choice. To date, the organization has raised more than $350,000 for medical research.
“My hope is that through sharing my story, I can help inspire others to take a step toward their own possible – whatever that may be,” says Peter Kirk, Sermo CEO and Founder of Be Your Possible. “My advice: just set a goal, whether big or small, and move towards it.”
Peter was nominated for the PharmaVoice 100 award by Dr. Michael Mauro of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “Any contribution towards medical research, no matter how small, can make a significant impact. From funding a research assistant or investigator to donating time to raise awareness, every effort counts towards advancing medical knowledge and improving healthcare outcomes,” says Dr. Mauro. “Peter has a deep appreciation for the research that went into making his transplant possible and has made it his mission to pay it forward and help others build back their lives.”
“This industry is a ground-breaking one capable of changing the world through science and technology. These honorees inspire advancements by guiding their teams, supporting their patients, and propelling their organizations’ missions forward. We are excited to recognize their contributions through this annual list,” said Meagan Parrish, lead editor of PharmaVoice.
This recognition comes on the heels of Be Your Possible being awarded Cinehealth’s best episodic series and best short film for “A Life Worth Running”, a three-part docuseries about Peter’s survivor story which includes meeting the blood stem cell donor who saved his life. The Cinehealth film festival took place during the recent annual Digital Pharma East conference in Philadelphia.